Can we eat raw food in summers? - What does Ayurveda Say?

In Ayurveda we always talk about the wholesome and unwholesome things, diet and lifestyle. How do we categorize something to be good for health or not? First of all, one must get it clear in mind that we cannot draw a differentiating line between healthy and unhealthy things because for example something recommended for someone in summer season may not be suitable for another person in that particular season. 

Still there are some habits, diet and lifestyle that Ayurveda differentiates as healthy in specific seasons. 

 

There is no right or wrong answer as to whether raw food is good or bad. It’s all matter of digestive capacity, our constitution, climate, season, imbalances and symptoms as to whether raw foods are suitable for us or not.

 

Not all raw foods are bad and raw foods are not bad for all. We are unique and so our approach to diet needs to be suitably customized. It’s not just what we eat but how we digest those matters. 

While for some, raw foods are digestible and can be taken in small amounts, a diet dominant in raw foods can often lead to symptoms of gas, bloating, abdominal cramps, constipation, disturbed sleep, dry skin, lack of energy, feeling cold and lowered appetite.

 

As per Ayurveda, Raw foods are dry, rough, cold and light which means similar qualities as of the Vata dosha. And this can lead to increase the Vata dosha. This in turns become hard to digest. 

 

People having weak digesting property lead to poor absorption of nutrients and an increase in toxins(ama). Generally, raw foods are very good for Pitta types than Vata dominant types since the light, cold, rough and dry qualities of raw are fine for the naturally strong digestion of Pitta.

 

As Kapha people have tendency to gain weight easily, regular intake of salads in moderation will help to maintain healthy weight by burning unwanted fat in Kapha individuals.

 

Examples of commonly eaten raw/cold foods include: cabbage, broccoli, carrot, beetroot, kale, lentils, soy beans, chick peas, broad beans, raw nuts and seeds, pasta or grain salads. 

 

In summer, raw/cold foods like all sweet seasonal fruits, tomatoes, celery, cucumber, watermelon, all leaves are more digestible. We naturally drawn to juices, smoothies and salads as they seem more suitable. Even though our digestive fire is generally low in summer, the more sun exposure our ‘raw’ foods have the more digestible they are likely to be and so summer lends well to cooler, salad-based meals. Salads along with dressings that contain pepper, mustard, honey, vinegar can help bring a little balance to coldness of salads.

 

Generally, Ayurveda does not encourage heavy consumption of raw foods. This is because raw foods are harder to digest for the body in comparison to cooked food. We may argue that we lose vitamins, minerals and enzymes, but if we can’t digest them, it is of no use in our system. 

 

Raw foods contain anti-nutrients that actually block the nutritional absorption of foods altogether. The vitamins and minerals contained in many fruits and vegetables are actually more bio-available once cooked. Lightly steaming or sautéing foods at low temperatures can help them to be more digestible, retain the nutrients and cooked with spices, enhanced even further.