As summer ends and autumn begins, an interesting thing happens in the body.  According to Ayurveda (the 2000+ year-old medical approach practiced in India), the heat from the summer builds up in your body at the end of the season causing multiple symptoms:  runny nose, seasonal allergies, dry skin, sluggish digestion, etc.  In other words, it won't be long before we are all sniffling, scratching and wondering why we are feeling so miserable.  But there is good news.

There are four cooling foods that you can eat right now which will help get rid of the excess heat in your body:

• Apples- one of the ways the body eliminates excess heat is through the digestive tract.  Fresh fall apples are nature's way of keeping your digestion loose.  Have a couple of fresh, local, organic apples every day to keep your heat in check. 
• Pomegranates- this anti-oxidant rich fruit is an anti-heating agent for the blood and lymph.  Have either the whole fruit, which contains tons of fiber, or a few ounces of pure (unsweetened) juice each day.
• Watermelon & Cucumbers - these delicious fruits are over 90% water and very cooling by nature. Grab the season's last watermelons and fresh local cucumbers from the markets while they are still available.

There are six warming foods that you should stay away from during the summer-to-autumn change of season:

• Spicy Foods
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Red meat
• Yogurt and cheese
• Alcohol

[For more information on this idea of seasonal transitioning, go visit John Douillard at www.lifespa.com.  He is a great ayurvedic doc and one of my mentors.]

So keep cool and remember to focus on what is beautiful this month.  Kids are back in school.  The weather is glorious.  You have clean air to breath and there are lots of people around you to give support if you need it.  Reach out.