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Eat and beat the heat!

Eat the right foods this summer to look and feel your best

CLEAN COOLERS Fresh fruits and fruit juices are the healthiest ways to keep cool PHOTO: S. GOPAKUMAR

The heat is on... quite literally. But tackling the season may not be as difficult as it seems. Eating right can go a long way in helping you stay fresh and can prevent heat induced lethargy and dehydration. High temperatures can cause dehydration, which in turn leads to heat strokes, nausea and giddiness. Loss of appetite and lack of energy are other symptoms that show the heat is getting to you. Here is a ready reckoner to look cool and stay chilled.

In most cases people don't realise that they are beginning to get dehydrated till they feel excessively thirsty. This is a big mistake. Don't wait for the symptoms to surface. Instead, keep drinking a lot of water. Carbonated drinks and caffeine rich drinks like colas and coffee are diuretics — meaning they prevent water retention in the body. Definitely stay away from these too. They may quench your thirst momentarily but will eventually be responsible in making you more dehydrated. Choose from fresh fruit juices, limewater with salt and sugar and panna. Panna — a refreshing sweet and salty raw mango drink — is an excellent source of minerals.

Fresh fruit and vegetable salads are light on the stomach and a good source of fibre and nutrients too. To make your salad a complete meal, toss in some boiled pasta and add fresh (well scrubbed) crunchy vegetables or parboiled ones. If you want something more filling, try cold soups. Cold soups like vichyssoise — a cold potato soup, or even those made from mint, cucumber, tomatoes and leeks are very popular across Europe and are great to cool down your system. Adopt these light soups into your summer menu and you won't be disappointed. Remember to keep the spices and garam masala away.

Water-rich fruits and vegetables are abundant in this season and this is what you should indulge in. Melons and gourds are water heavy and have a lot of minerals too. Complex foods and carbohydrate rich foods lean towards the heavier side. While carbohydrates like rice are not off limits, make sure you eat these in moderation.

RENUKA VIJAY KUMAR

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