Sonia Jones ND from The Haven Spa, Health Clinic, and Fitness Center

This may seem like a strange statement right now as its winter and snow covering the ground. Some people are hot and red faced most of the year regardless of the weather.   Their bodies are producing too much heat be they men and women, regardless of the menopause.

“Cool as a cucumber” there is a good reason for this saying, cucumbers are very cooling, it is renowned for it. Technically cucumber is fruit, as is the tomato. Cucumber is also an excellent diuretic and mild laxative. It dissolves uric acid, helps digestion and regulates blood pressure. It is also an alkaline forming food, a non-starchy vegetable or more correctly herb or fruit.

Then there is mint the common stuff that takes over your garden if you let it, is very cooling. Mint is also good for heart burn, indigestion, cramps, migraines, headaches, and vomiting. Also helps to soot and calm. A side dish called raita from India is served with hot spicy curries – ingredients are natural yogurt with chopped mint and cucumber to cool the palate.  Make some salad with grated apples, sliced cucumber and green leaves – lemon juice, olive oil, fresh chopped mint and serve with fish. Or make a cool cucumber soup

Cool Cucumber Soup

Coconut oil or Olive Oil

Chopped up onions

Half the juice of a fresh lemon (or more if you prefer)

Peeled, seeded and chopped, 3 to 4 large cucumbers

1 cup of vegetable stock

Salt and pepper to taste

1 ripe avocado (if available)

1 natural yogurt

Chopped up mint or parsley

Sauté the onions in the oil only until soft (not brown). Place all the ingredients except the yogurt into a blender and blend all the ingredients together until smooth, then stir in the yogurt.  Place to the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour and maximum 4 hours before serving.

If you have a juice maker – then make juice with cucumber, mint, some lemon and papaya. You need to avoid ginger in your smoothies and juices if you feel the heat more than most. Avoid those spicy foods with or with raita side dish. In Chinese Traditional Medicine coffee is heating while black and green teas are cooling. Maybe that is why so much is consumed in the hot climate of India.

Stay cool.

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Tags: coconut oil, cucumber, mint, nutrition, vitamins and minerals