Happy Summer Solstice

We enter summer around June 21st with the summer solstice, when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky and is the day with the longest period of daylight. But this solstice day also marks the beginning of the cycle of growing darkness which will peak six months later at the winter solstice. We are exactly halfway through the year and midway between the two equinoxes.

According to the Chinese Five Elements system, summer is related to the element fire, providing the energy governing the heart and the small intestine. When its unbalanced you might experience anxiety, agitation, excessive sweating and disturbed sleep. This element is associated with the emotion of joy and sadness. The flavor associated with the Fire element is bitter. Eat bitter foods and herbs to strengthen the heart and the small intestine. The fire element relates to the energy of creativity, intuition, and motion.

Summer is the time of growth and maturation. Nature providing us with plentiful fruits and vegetables. It is a time for high energy activities; outdoor exercise, sports, water recreation and hikes in nature.

Some of my favorite health tips for summer

• Get plenty of outdoor activity; hiking, camping, swimming in lakes and rivers
• Sit in nature and meditate
• Sunbathe naked and consider a “no-tan-line” summer
• Eat lot of fresh fruits but best eaten in the morning or in the first half of the day on an empty stomach
• Enjoy all the seasonal summer vegetables that you can find at the farmers market or in your garden 🙂
• This is the time for juicing, smoothies and superfoods!
• Exercise regularly, move your body, sweat and feel your muscles
• Wake up early and start your day early
• Have lots of fun and laugher, friends, vacation and gatherings
• Eat less animal protein and more cheese, yoghurt and kefir
• Eat fish and seafood if you are near a lake or the ocean
• Sluther your roosters if you got too many and make a delicious broth