According to Ayurveda, raw salads are very taxing on your digestive system and can leave you feeling bloated. This is because raw foods require your agni aka “digestive fire” to work extra hard and leave your fire cold. Ayurvedic practitioners and doctors in South Asia find it quite amusing that the pinnacle of healthy food in the West is considered to be a raw salad! While it may be tempting to go for something cold to feel refreshed during peak summer, it is much better for your digestion to lightly cook even salad greens like lettuce. I could not get enough of this dish I learned from working in an organic pub in London one summer. It was a heat wave and the kitchen was 52 degrees for days, and all I could get myself to eat was this side the head chef showed me how to prepare, sometimes with a bit of roast chicken. Juicy, crunchy and so hydrating!
