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Top 6 Spices In Summer To Cool Your Body, As Per Ayurveda

Team Chukde

12/06/2025

If you’ve ever felt like your body was throwing a tantrum in the summer—sweaty, irritated, and oddly bloated—you’re not alone. That’s when old people would swoop in with her classic line: "Garmi ka ilaaj masalon se karo, dawa se nahi." (Cure the heat with spices, not pills.)

It sounded odd at first—spices to cool down? Aren’t they supposed to add heat? But according to Ayurveda, certain spices have incredible cooling properties that help balance your Pitta dosha, the fire element in our bodies that goes haywire during summer.

Let’s dive in.

1. Fennel Seeds (Saunf)

Why it works: Fennel seeds are like a breath of fresh air for your digestive system. It’s cooling, sweet, and known to balance excess heat in the body (source).
How to use it: You can try the following effective methods:

• Soak a teaspoon of fennel seeds overnight in a glass of water. Strain and drink this infused water every morning.
• Boil fennel seeds in water to make fennel tea
• Prepare a cooling sharbat by grinding fennel seeds with herbs, spices, and a sweetener.
• After meals, chew a teaspoon of fennel seeds. This not only cools the body but also improves digestion.
• Sprinkle fennel seeds or fennel seed powder on desserts, salads, or beverages.

2. Coriander Seeds (Dhaniya)

Why it works: Coriander is rich in antioxidants that help protect your skin from premature aging and sun damage. It may also soothe and heal mild skin rashes (source).
How to use it: You can prepare coriander seed water or tea:

• Gently crush about a teaspoon of coriander seeds.
• Add the crushed seeds to about half a liter of boiling water.
• Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes.
• After simmering, cover and allow it to cool down.
• Strain out the seeds before drinking.
• Optionally, add a squeeze of lime juice for extra refreshment and detoxifying benefits.

3. Cardamom (Elaichi)

Why it works: Small in size but mighty in action, green cardamom is widely recognized for its natural cooling properties. It helps regulate body temperature and maintain a lower heat (source).
How to use it: You can incorporate it in several effective ways:

• Chew raw cardamom seeds as a mouth freshener.
• Add cardamom powder to milk while heating it.
• Use cardamom powder or seeds in sweet dishes, desserts, or traditional Indian sweets.
• Prepare cardamom-infused beverages such as iced teas, lassis, or herbal teas.
• Boil cardamom seeds in water to make a cooling infusion.

4. Cumin Seeds (Jeera)

Why it works: Cumin helps balance Pitta, aids digestion, and prevents water retention—something we all dread during humid months (source).
How to use it: Here is how to do it:

• Boil a teaspoon of cumin seeds in water, then let the water cool down. Drink this cumin water throughout the day.
• You can also add cumin powder to cool drinks like lemonade, soda, or buttermilk.

5. Turmeric (Haldi)

Wait—isn’t turmeric warming?
Yes, but here’s the twist—Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory effects and can help cool the body. It also supports the body’s detoxification process(source).

How to use it: You can incorporate it in several refreshing and beneficial ways:

• Mix turmeric powder with Milk, add a pinch of black pepper, and enjoy.
• Boil powdered turmeric in water, strain, and drink it after cooling it.
• Make Turmeric tea.
• Incorporate turmeric powder into your morning smoothies or salad dressings.
• Adding turmeric to lemon water or herbal teas can serve as a refreshing detox drink.

6. Fenugreek Seeds (Methi Dana)

Why it works: Fenugreek seeds help reduce internal body heat and alleviate symptoms caused by excessive heat such as nausea, rashes, and discomfort. (source).
How to use it: Methods to Use Fenugreek Seeds for Cooling:

• Soak about one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in a glass of water overnight. In the morning, strain the water and drink it on an empty stomach.
• Boil fenugreek seeds in water, allow the water to cool, then strain and drink it.
• Fenugreek seeds can be added to meals or consumed directly.

Why Chukde Spices?

• Clean, preservative-free spices with zero aflatoxin, bacteria, salmonella, or fungus contamination.
• Sourcing directly from trusted local farmers who practice ethical methods, ensuring high-quality and original spices.
• Rigorous quality control with 27 chemical and microbial tests before processing.
• Hand sorting and cleaning for extra attention to detail and superior aroma and flavor.
• High natural oil content and no use of harmful dyes or fillers, preserving the natural essence of the spices.
• Certified by authorities like ISO and FSSC, reflecting high standards.

FAQs

Q. Can I give these spices to kids during summer?

Yes, but in moderation. Fennel and cardamom even help ease digestion. Avoid fenugreek unless recommended by a pediatrician.

Q. What’s the best time to consume cooling spices?

Morning is ideal for soaked seeds like fenugreek and fennel. For best effect, use cumin, coriander, and mint in lunch or mid-day drinks.

Q. Can I combine all these spices in one drink?

Not recommended. It’s better to rotate them throughout the day or week rather than mix them all at once.

Q. Do these spices replace the need for cooling foods like fruits and curd?

They complement them. For example, add jeera to your cucumber raita or mint to your watermelon salad—it’s all about pairing wisely.

Q. Why not just drink cold drinks instead?

Because aerated drinks and synthetic juices offer a temporary chill but increase internal heat. Cooling spices regulate heat from within, not just mask it.

Q. Which spices should we avoid in summer?

For a balanced diet, it is best to avoid or limit ginger, chilies, garlic, clove, black pepper, and hing and instead use cooling spices.

Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. We emphasize consulting a doctor before consuming anything in your diet.