I’m sure by now everyone has noticed, the heat has officially set in this summer. It’s time to cool off with some delicious fruits and vegetables that actually help lower your bodies temperature and keep you nice and hydrated. The raw food diet is probably the most ideal diet for summer time as everything yummy is in season, lower in price, and there is no need to turn on that hot stove or oven to whip up a delicious meal. Nature provides an abundance of foods this time of year to help keep us cool and nourished. Many fruits and veggies that have a shorter season like summer squashes, cucumbers, and melons come into their full glory during the hottest months, and have the most cooling effect. Some cooling vegetables include crunchy lettuces, mixed baby greens, celery, crisp sunflower greens and sprouts, and brocolli which make great salad fixings. Chop up some fresh corn into your summer salads as well, I have certainly been enjoying that lately. For a light dressing try a high quality extra virgin olive oil like bariani, and our brand new coconut vinegar and coconut aminos. Combine with minced fresh herbs and a pinch of salt and our salad will be rawkin and ready to go.
Aim for high levels of juicy fruits during the summer. Melons of all kinds are amazing, watermelon being especially cooling to the system. Try also different varieties like galia, crenshaw, canary, tucson cantaloupe, and casaba. Some of these melons are so sweet and delicately flavored and textured that they nearly melt in your mouth. Keep your melons in the fridge once ripe to avoid spoilage and to highten their cooling effect on the body. Make sure to load up on lots of tomatoes, fresh bell peppers, cucumbers, zuchinni, and yellow summer squashes too, as these are cooling fruits that will make great bases for savory meals when fruit isn't hitting the spot. You can make veggie chips out of the summer squashes by simply marinating in a little olive oil, salt and herbs and dehydrating until crisp. Also, one of my ultimate summer meals is zuchinni pasta, which is so light and flavorful, even your cooked food friends will be amazed that it is raw and so easy to make. Great for summer potlucks and family meals.
Last week I had a complete moment of utter excitement in my local co-op. I spotted for the first time this season what is probably my all time favorite summer time fruit, fresh figs!!!! There is just something about figs that my body absolutely craves. The flavor of course is amazing, and the texture is like that of a gooey, sweet dessert with a nectar-like filling. But beyond this, the fig has an incredible array of nutrients and health benefits that make this delectable fruit deserve some spotlight attention.
Figs are incredibly alkalinizing due to their very high mineral content. As far as sweet fruit goes, figs are exceptional high in a few minerals that many other fruits skimp on. Calcium and iron being two, which are great for bone and blood building. They are known for having one of the highest Calcium levels in the plant kingdom. They also contain high levels of copper, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K. They are a strength and energy food. Figs trees have been around since ancient times, consumed by both primates in nature and people living all over the world. Fig tree are native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region of the world, and are now cultivated in many other areas of the world with a similar climate.
Figs are very soothing and cleansing to the digestive system and are very high in soluble fiber, which gently keeps waste moving out of our bodies easily. They actually have the ability to help dissolve mucous buildup in the large intestines. Figs would be an incredible fruit to eat before and after an intestinal cleanse or juice fast.
I prefer to eat figs as a mono meal all by themselves, but you can also blend them in smoothies or chopped up in green salads with a little Coconut Vinegar and olive oil. Try making a figgy vanilla nut mylk by blending a few figs into your nut mylk base. Do this with sesame mylk (recipe included below) and you will literally have an akalinizing, Calcium packed, bone building super tonic.
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