Rework your summer diet: What to include and what to skip

The scorching summer heat could make you exhausted and rob the essential minerals and nutrients from the body. Having a glass of ice-cold cool drink or an aerated drink would make you feel better for a shortwhile. However, medical experts and dieticians say that the summer diet shouldn’t put extra pressure on the body. There is a long list of foods that should be eaten to replenish your body. Similarly, there are a few that shouldn’t be on your menu during the summer season.

Foods that increase body temperature

Even though the traditional food habits of Kerala do not cater to the changing seasons and weather patterns, dieticians advice that foods that increase the body temperature should be avoided during summer. It is essential to take the necessary precautions against summer diseases and extreme exhaustion. Over sweating could make your clothes moist which could then be the breeding ground for bacteria. So, the body should be made strong and resilient through appropriate diet and life style changes. In order to reduce the body heat, the body lowers the functioning of the internal functions. So, this would lower the appetite. It is better to include foods that are lighter on the stomach and easy to digest in your regular diet.

Fruits and veggies

Do not forget to eat lots of fruits that sweet and watery to beat the summer heat. Watermelons could be enjoyed every day to replenish the body. Dishes made with rice, wheat and mung beans should be eaten. Soups that aren’t too fatty is a filling and healthy dish. Veggies like tomatoes, bitter gourd, snake gourd, lady finger, egg plants and cucumbers are perfect for the summer season. However, potatoes, cassava, Chinese potato and garlic should be eaten only in moderation. Mung beans, urad dal and toor dal could help in reducing the body heat. Meanwhile, kidney beans, horse gram and sesame seeds could cause the body heat to soar during summer. Fruits like mangoes, bananas, grapes, tender coconut and small bananas could be eaten every day. Summer is the time to go easy on meat, fatty food and fast food. Make sure to say ‘no’ to intoxicating drinks like alcohol.

Drink lots of water

It is said that a healthy adult should drink at least 8 glasses of water every day to stay hydrated. However, during the summer, it should go up to at least 12 glasses a day to prevent the water loss. This is beside the fruits, juices or tea/coffee that one consumes in a day. Ice creams, chocolate, tea, coffee and other cool drinks should be avoided. Make sure to drink boiled and cooled water. Herbs like vetiver, sappan wood, sandal wood and Indian sarapilla could be added in the drinking water to give it medicinal benefits. Storing the drinking water in earthen pots is a natural way of cooling it. Refreshing drinks like buttermilk, lassi and tender coconut water are excellent during summer. These incredible drinks ensure to replenish the body with essential minerals and nutrients that are lost through sweat.