In extremely dry conditions, the body temperature rises and it’s dehydrated. This manifests itself in headaches, dizziness, cramps, irritability and even loss of consciousness in extreme cases. Excessive sweating can also lead to loss of electrolytes and body salts such as potassium and sodium, impairing the functions of vital organs.[break]
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However, the good news is that all of these are readily available in foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. The Week tells you what you can do to keep yourself healthy and cool throughout the scorching summer days.
Keep yourself hydrated
• Drink at least two liters of water every day.
• Sugarcane juice is a refreshing drink to beat the heat. It tastes great with a dash of mint and ginger.
• Lemon juice with a pinch of sugar and salt is the eternal summer drink.
• Nothing beats lassi in summer. Not only is it cooling, there’s an added bonus from curd. It contains healthy bacteria that aid digestion.
Make fruits your best friend
• Melons with their high water content can keep you hydrated on a hot day. They are also good sources of Vitamin C and fiber.
• Papaya is cooling and rich in beta carotene and Vitamin C. The fiber and enzyme papain found in the fruit keeps your digestion in check.
• Apricots are a good source of Vitamin C and beta carotene too.
• Plums are luscious fruits and their juice is excellent for parched throats.
• Mangoes are rich in anti-oxidants and their juice is an effective remedy to beat the summer heat.
Feast on salads and veggies
• Salads are light and nutritious. Tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, lettuce and capsicum tossed together make a crunchy delicacy. These veggies are loaded with nutrients. Teamed with grilled fish, chicken or tofu, they make a healthy summer meal. You can add sprouts and seeds to your salad to make it more nutritious and healthy.
• Gourds are also cooling and great for your digestive system. Bitter gourd has digestive and antiseptic properties that keep breakouts and infections at bay. You should include one item from the gourd family in your diet if you want to strengthen your immune system.
• Pumpkins are also great summer veggies which are cooling and great for your tummy.
• Also, add roasted cumin to your veggies. It has a cooling effect.
Go easy on:
Spicy, salty & oily foods
They are hard to digest and generate a lot of heat in the body. Too much salt have unhealthy repercussions from elevated blood pressure to kidney diseases.
Have fruits and vegetables; they have enough sodium to meet our dietary needs.
Heavy meals
Keep your meals light for easy digestion. You can also keep munching on nuts or fruits in frequent intervals to keep your metabolism up.
Caffeinated/aerated drinks
These are diuretics. Avoid them as far as possible. Opt for fresh juices and herbal or green tea instead.
Chilled foods and drinks
They interfere with the body’s natural cooling mechanism.
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