Foods to beat the
summer heat
Ø Gooseberry (Amla): Eat enough and this
gooseberry might give you goosebumps instead of sweat stains. "Not only is
amla a great refresher, it'll also reverse the ageing effects of the strong
Indian sun and give you added stamina for gym sessions," says Ritika
Samaddar, dietician, Max Healthcare. "It strengthens the heart, hair and
different glands in the body, as well and can be drunk at any time of the
day."
Ø Apricot: If you're prone to skin
breakouts or acne in the summer, apricot's your man.. err fruit. "They
provide the body with iron, vitamin C, potassium and fibre." Pack a
handful to the gym and enjoy them as a great pre- or post-workout snack.
Ø Butter milk: Butter milk can kick diet
soda's ass. "It is one of the healthiest bracers in hot summer months as
it is the residue left behind after the fat in milk has been churned to produce
butter." Glug a glass a day to avoid dehydration and avoid digestion
issues.
Ø Cardamom (Elaichi): Look no further than your
cup of elachi chai for an instant cooldown. Cardamom, an original Indian spice,
is commonly used in Ayurveda for almost any ailment from halitosis to digestion
and has wonderful detoxifying properties to effectively cool down even the most
hot-headed days. Africa,
jealous much?
Ø Corn: Nothing elevates work stress
more than a malfunctioning air conditioner. So pop some corn. It's a good
source of pantothenic acid, which provides vitamin B to lower stress levels.
boiling corn for a snacker or a lunch takeaway as it lowers cholesterol levels
and is high in essential carbs.
Ø Mango: Chilled mangoes are the
juiciest way to cool off, but if you're looking for a bit of spice, try this:
Unripe mangoes are a rich source of pectin and when steamed and juiced with
cumin (jeera) and salt, they provide an excellent remedy for heat strokes and
exhaustion in summers.
Ø Oyster: Even if the world's not your
oyster, make this shellfish a part of your summer meals. Already established as
an aphrodisiac, oysters contain phytochemicals that wipe out the toxins that
encourage sweating. But heed these pearls of wisdom: They're best consumed
fresh and should not be bought from stores where they're sold in bags and
bowls.
Ø Peaches: Dried peaches are advisable for
those who are anaemic and over-fatigued." They also fight high
cholesterol. Eat them with the skin for breakfast to get your requirement of
vitamin A, vitamin B2 and potassium and everything will be just peachy!
Ø Soybeans: Traditional Chinese medicine
proves soybeans are great natural coolants. "Rich in protein, they help
prevent nasty summer colds." Add some to caramel custards, kheer or
payasam to lower bad cholesterol levels. Soy far, Soy cool!
Ø Watermelon: There's a reason this fruit
holds a lot of water to its name: Super-sized and super-packed with nutritional
goodies such as iron, potassium, beta carotene and vitamin C, watermelon has 95
per cent water content. "It also helps treat kidney, bladder and digestive
problems and can be drunk as juice or directly eaten."
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