Take this summer to balance your internal body by exploring these different diet suggestions.

From sweaty summer heat to icy-cold air conditioned environments, our bodies are constantly shifting temperatures in the summer months. Your internal body doesn’t have to be in flux, however. Take this summer to balance your internal body by exploring these different diet suggestions.

Alkaline versus Acidic. These two words relate to our pH – our “potential hydrogen” levels. Too much acidity in your body means there isn’t enough oxygen for your cells to remain healthy. We need to maintain an alkaline pH for our blood to function normally and to fight things like cancer, weight gain, viruses, fatigue, heart disease, diabetes, premature aging and more. As human beings, we have a tendency to consume more acidic foods rather than alkaline ones which is the reverse of what we should actually be doing. Keeping in mind that every body is unique, the ideal diet is approximately 75-80% alkaline foods and 15-20% acidic.

Acid-forming foods. Acid foods include refined sugars, white breads, saturated fats, processed foods, alcohol, pop, caffeine, various condiments and tobacco to name a few. Wheat, yeast, salt, dairy and meat (aside from some fish) are also acidic. But not all so-called “good” foods are alkalinizing. With the exception of the fruit mentioned in the next paragraph, fruit actually has an acidic affect on your body!

Alkaline-forming foods. Some foods in this category include green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, asparagus, celery, cucumber, lettuce, cabbage, squash, carrots, soy grasses and sprouts also help. Surprisingly, the alkalinizing fruits you can enjoy include lemons, lime, watermelon, tomatoes, avocado and grapefruit. Just because a fruit is “acidic”, doesn’t mean it has that affect on your body.

Restoring the balance. This part is fairly straightforward: add more alkaline foods to your diet. You want to detoxify your system before reintroducing acidic foods into your body. Should you want to explore a pH balanced diet, there are a variety of resources on the Internet offering charts that give you a more detailed list of alkaline and acidic foods. Remember, you want to cut down on acidic foods, but they still count for around 20% of your diet. The key to this diet is “balance.”

Yin versus Yang: It’s similar to the alkaline/acid diet in that the traditional Eastern Yin/Yang diet is about balance. In this instance, Yin/Yang foods are related to whether a food “warms” or “cools” your body. In some cases, the choices can seem surprising. Beer has a cooling effect while wine warms. The Chinese black and white Yin/Yang symbol is an example of this balance. The Yin (black) represents the female; it’s also a symbol of winter, cool, wet and resting to name a few. The Yang (white) is symbolic of the male; it represents summer, heat, dryness and activity. When it comes to determining what foods are in which category, there are four different factors: where and how the food was grown, its sodium/potassium content and whether it heats or cools the body. Balancing the two is supposed to be connected to your hormone production as well as helping your energy levels. There are distinctive symptoms if you are in a state of imbalance. Too much Yin food in your diet might make you feel constantly chilly, have a slower metabolism and be withdrawn and tired. Conversely, too much Yang food in your diet might cause you to feel excessively warm, have sleep problems and constipation and be more irritable.

Yin foods. These cool the body. Foods rich in potassium that grow above ground are in the Yin category. Some of Yin fruits and vegetables include apples, asparagus, cucumber, cabbage, bananas, grapes, lemons, pineapple, spinach, tomatoes, strawberries and oranges to name a few. Also in this category are almonds, honey and white sugar. Yin meats would include duck, fish, mussels, oysters and shrimp. Interestingly enough, water is also in the Yin category. When it comes to Yin cooking methods, you’ll be looking at steaming, broiling and poaching – all water related.

Yang foods. These warm the body. The Yang group includes high sodium foods that grow below the soil. Green peppers, potatoes and onions are Yang veggies. Meats such as beef, ham, lamb, and turkey are in this category. Other Yang items include pepper, butter, cheese, chocolate, coffee, eggs, garlic, brown sugar, peanut butter and more. As for cooking methods, Yang cooking is related to roasting, stir- and deep-frying.

The Yin/Yang Balance. People who practice this diet method eat warmer, Yang foods in the winter, and cooler, Yin foods in the summer to counteract the external temperature. There are also neutral foods like carrots, cauliflower, peas, peaches, cherries, plums, lean chicken, rice and bread.

Summer foods. Keeping in mind these two different diets, just what do you do about summer goodies? Ice cream (Yin) might cool your body down, but it is in the acidic category. Frozen watermelon might make for a cooler treat. A fresh spinach salad with tomatoes and avocado or some fresh coleslaw with lemon and herb dressing will keep you cooler (and alkaline) to balance out that acidic Yang steak on the barbecue. On a scorching day, stick to this sure-fire alkalinizing beverage with cooler Yin properties: a glass of good old fashioned lemonade.