food and the body
What does it mean when a food is called heaty or cooling?
What the tradition says
The idea comes from Ayurvedic thinking. Some foods, like mangoes, nuts, ginger, and certain spices, are called heaty, or garam, and are believed to raise heat in the body, sometimes blamed for things like mouth ulcers if eaten in excess. Others, like yogurt, cucumber, coconut water, and melon, are called cooling, or thanda, and are believed to soothe. People are often encouraged to balance the two with the seasons.
What science says
There is no scientific basis for foods being inherently heating or cooling in this way. It is a traditional framework. Any effects a person notices tend to be individual rather than a general rule.
In everyday life
The idea is everyday and widespread, heard in advice like eating cooling foods in summer or going easy on heaty foods. How it is applied varies by region and family.