One of my favorite things about this time of year is apples. When they begin to come out towards the end of August, I eat them until October. Apples remove heat that accumulates in the body from summer, acting as a purgative promoting elimination.

This pesto is versatile. Add it to salads, grain bowls, and avocado toast and use it as a sandwich spread. It goes great with pasta, non-gluten pasta, zucchini noodles, sauté, or roasted vegetables, or add it to the GARDEN SUMMER SALAD.

This dish is one of my favorites towards the end of summer when these foods are abundant. Cucumber and zucchini hydrate the body helping to balance out the dryness that occurs towards the end of summer.

Nature gives us exactly what we need, and seasonal eating is one of the best ways to improve the health of your gut, your microbiome. For thousands of years, Ayurveda has used seasonal eating to do just that.

This dish is one of my favorites during the summer, especially when it gets hot. It is light, easy to digest, and cooling to the body. In Ayurvedic terms: it's pitta pacifying.

Ayurveda has a self-care regimen for each season. Summer is considered Pitta season when the qualities of Fire and Water dominate the season. These qualities build as we move through summer. July through September is when we can begin to see and feel the effects of these qualities.