Summer time backyard BBQs abound! As we transition out of COVID restrictions into more social gatherings, what better way to spend time together than grilling outside!

With BBQs, digestive upset often also follows. Feelings of being “too full” or your food “sitting like a rock” and bloating are all too common.

Why does this happen?

Damp Heat and Summer

All the reasons that bring us outside are also the reasons for gastrointestinal upset.

Damp Heat, as explained in a previous blog, happens when fluids aren’t transported appropriately.  The body will retain them and dampness will form.

When we see internal damp heat during the summer it often shows up as:

• Diarrhea

• Heat Stroke or Fever

• Phlegm

• Indigestion

• Lack of energy

When you think of your favorite backyard BBQs what comes to mind? Often you will find lots of beer and ice cream right?

The typical American diet has a lot of meat, dairy, frozen foods and alcoholic beverages. These are the perfect cocktail (no pun intended) for your stomach to rebel.

Foods To Eat

To avoid feeling this digestive upset, consider pulling some of these foods into your next gathering (and all through the summer):

• Cucumber

• Watermelon

• Celery

• Strawberries

• Radishes

• String beans

• Melons

• Avocados

• Bananas (in moderation)

• Kiwi

• Asparagus

• Bean sprouts (just quick fry before eating!)

• Bok Choy

• Cabbage

• Citrus Fruits (except oranges)

• Mushrooms

• Mung Beans

• Seaweed

• Tomato (in moderation)

• Dark Leafy Greens (Kale, Spinach, Chard etc.)

Reducing your overall sugar intake goes a long way too. Sugar creates more dampness. I often tell my clients to avoid sugar, dairy, gluten and alcohol to manage their dampness effectively.

Sounds like a total bummer, right? Moderation is the name of the game. I will never tell you “no” you can’t have it because it will become the one thing you want.

Being mindful about how much of these things you are consuming and just being aware of what they do inside your body goes a long way to creating balance to keep your digestion working properly during the summer months.

Herbal support like Digestive Harmony from Dao Labs has been a good friend of mine for any kind of digestive discomfort. Take it before you eat or once the stomach starts feeling “stuck” – it’s supportive either way!

Foods To Avoid

What you’re eating as well as how you are eating it are equally important.

For example, lots of iced drinks or foods may seem appropriate for the summer months, but they actually damage your digestive function in excess.

Fried foods will have a similar dampness and phlegm accumulating effect. Think about this when you reach for that next fried dough at the fair.

Foods to avoid during the hot summer months:

• Alcohol

• Fat and Grease

• Ice Cream

• Sweets (think – refined sugars)

• Dairy

• Highly spiced foods

• Red meats (have your burgers and steaks in moderation because red meat is warming!)