It is virtually impossible to avoid some type of temptation during the summer months when we are enjoying holidays away from home and work, celebrating Christmas or other traditions, and generally having fun in the sun. Of course we try and practice moderation to avoid nasty hangovers from too much alcohol, food or not enough sleep, but the reality is we are but mere mortals who can sometimes be enticed into a treat or five that can further lead us into overindulgence.
Luckily the summer time provides an abundance of fruits and vegetables to support and nourish our bodies as we put them through the rigours of the festive season. In the warmer weather we naturally crave fresh, light and cooling foods, which incidentally often have the added bonus of being ‘slimming’ foods too!
The types of vegetables that are abundant in summer and impart cooling properties that are great for us during the heat of summer include; radishes, sprouts, summer squash, zucchini, beets, cabbage, asparagus, kohlrabi, mustard, celery and short season variety tomatoes.
Fruits for summer are strawberries, peaches, cherries, plums, blackberries and raspberries.
One area of our body that may need special attention over this time is our liver due to the influx of toxins we may be contending with. If our liver is overloaded we may notice that we are impatient and edgy, impulsive or stubborn (remember the saying about someone being “a bit shitty livered”?); qualities we certainly don’t want to have with us on a camping trip with the neighbours!
Other signs of a struggling liver include menstrual irregularities, fatigue, morning sluggishness, muscle and tendon pain, a red face and red dry eyes. The list does go on, but you get the picture.
Foods that are likely to add to liver sluggishness are; dairy - including cheese and milk, fatty meats (BBQ’s), fried foods (tempting takeaways), hot peppers, refined and processed foods (junk-food basically), shortening, margarine, preservatives, and, you know this one - alcohol.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”
Eats lots of green foods as these nourish and support the liver; asparagus, mustard greens, alfalfa sprouts, water cress, endives, dandelion greens - yes just pick them from the garden! Cucumbers are great for helping remove toxins from the body as they are so high in water, and contain no fat!
Another of my personal favourites is the humble celery. Celery acts like a tonic for the liver and can be eaten raw, used in cooking or juiced. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, recommended celery to soothe the nerves - another bonus for a weary body after those summer shenanigans. Some suggest that celery juice may also reduce appetite.
Keep hydrated - remember the fruits and veges with high water content - watermelon and other melons, celery and cucumber, as well sipping on fresh water regularly throughout the day. Pop some grapes in the freezer and use these as cooling sweets for the kids - big or small.
Green tea has loads of benefits of our health, including supporting the liver during times of indulgence. Have a couple of cups daily, or if you are like me and can’t always face the taste of a straight cup, try substituting green tea for water in some cooking dishes e.g. absorption method rice cooking, bases for soups and sauces, or in flavoured jellies. A great way to get the benefits if you are a bit ho-hum.
Watermelons are perfect to eat after exercise - either post workout or recreational, when we are tired and need hydrating. Watermelons have a high-glycemic index which means they impart instant energy. They are also high in the antioxidant lycopene. To ensure you are purchasing a ripe watermelon, slap it with an open hand and if the subsequent sound is a hollow one, then you know you are in the money!
Eat small installments of food rather than huge meals. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tells us that any liver dysfunction is the result of having stagnant qi or vital life energy. TCM recommends eating simple, east to digest meals that don’t completely fill you up (maybe just eat until you are half full) as overeating can create a sluggish, over-worked liver which in turn can cause nausea, bloating and indigestion.
Include plenty of the cooling and soothing summer foods I have mentioned above as well as lightly steamed vegetables and stewed fruits (without added sugar).
TCM also advocates eating the bitter greens, like dandelion and endive, to help the livers detoxification process.
