Summer is just around the corner, so now is the time to begin thinking about how we can optimize our health as temperatures rise and days become longer. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, human health is intricately linked to our environment. The living and non-living environmental components, including the humidity and sunlight, have just as much impact on our health as what we eat or the amount of exercise we get. For instance, we now know that Vitamin D, which is synthesized by sunlight, plays a major role in immune and muscle function, bone strength, and cellular growth. Our bodies are influenced by multiple environmental factors, all which help maintain our physiological and emotional balance. Illness occurs when our body’s natural balance is disrupted. According to Five Element Theory, the human body functions according to the premise that we are not separate from nature but just another component of it.
The Father of American environmentalism, John Muir, also seemed to share the Eastern philosophy of connectedness. He said, “When you pull any one thing, you find it connected to everything else in the Universe.” Muir lived during the late 1800s but he clearly understood the ecological connection between humans and nature. Modern medicine is just beginning to understand this connection, which we now see in the emerging fields of environmental health and epigenetics.
The Five Elements (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal) relate body functions to five seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Late Summer, and Autumn. Each element also corresponds to characteristics, such as color, climate, emotion, Yin/Yang organ system, sense organs, developmental phases, and so on. In fact, the list of Five Element characteristics is so comprehensive that it even includes features such as the sound of a person’s voice, e.g., groaning, shouting, or singing.
So, to optimize your Summer wellness, consider looking at Summer diet and daily activities emphasizing cooling and growth. Heat taxes the cardiovascular system. Warmer temperatures cause increased sweating and impacts fluid volume. Some people may be at higher risk for strokes, heart attacks, or hypertension during Summer months. Stay cool and hydrated, and especially watch dietary salt intake. Increase your consumption of fresh fruit and red-colored seasonal fruit, such as plums, watermelons, and strawberries. Consume local foods when possible. Eat Summer crops like corn and beans. More Southwest chili, perhaps? The warmer temperatures are also an appropriate time to partake in raw foods with moderation.
Avoid situations which may get you hot under the collar or increase excitability. The key is to stay cool in the Summer. Emphasize growth and development activities. Try gardening or learning a new language. Engage in activities to enlighten you during the brighter Summer months.
The Father of American environmentalism, John Muir, also seemed to share the Eastern philosophy of connectedness. He said, “When you pull any one thing, you find it connected to everything else in the Universe.” Muir lived during the late 1800s but he clearly understood the ecological connection between humans and nature. Modern medicine is just beginning to understand this connection, which we now see in the emerging fields of environmental health and epigenetics.
The Five Elements (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal) relate body functions to five seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Late Summer, and Autumn. Each element also corresponds to characteristics, such as color, climate, emotion, Yin/Yang organ system, sense organs, developmental phases, and so on. In fact, the list of Five Element characteristics is so comprehensive that it even includes features such as the sound of a person’s voice, e.g., groaning, shouting, or singing.
So, to optimize your Summer wellness, consider looking at Summer diet and daily activities emphasizing cooling and growth. Heat taxes the cardiovascular system. Warmer temperatures cause increased sweating and impacts fluid volume. Some people may be at higher risk for strokes, heart attacks, or hypertension during Summer months. Stay cool and hydrated, and especially watch dietary salt intake. Increase your consumption of fresh fruit and red-colored seasonal fruit, such as plums, watermelons, and strawberries. Consume local foods when possible. Eat Summer crops like corn and beans. More Southwest chili, perhaps? The warmer temperatures are also an appropriate time to partake in raw foods with moderation.
Avoid situations which may get you hot under the collar or increase excitability. The key is to stay cool in the Summer. Emphasize growth and development activities. Try gardening or learning a new language. Engage in activities to enlighten you during the brighter Summer months.
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