Maintenance is essential to escape ill-effects of a scorching sun on your health
Photo: G. Moorthy
Fresh ‘n’ juicy Tasty and good for health
April is the cruellest month, wrote T. S. Eliot in his poem ‘The Waste Land’. If the American poet had been in Madurai he would have probably changed his verse to include the month of May also.
The sweltering heat in the city is such that it drives people scampering for some cool options. In the search to quench their thirst, they do fall victims to some improper cooling solutions, quite ignorant of the after effects such practices might cause.
Right food combination
What then is the right combination of food that can protect people and prevent them from contracting heat-influenced ailments?
V. Suganya, chief dietician, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, explains: “Generally, exposure to simmering heat can dehydrate anyone. Due to profuse sweating, water content in the body reduces drastically. As a result, the salt sediments in the body pave way for kidney-related problems. Hence, it is better people increase their water intake. Normally, we advice them to drink two litres a day, but, during this period three litres a day is recommended to combat the extreme heat.”
Some people prefer fruit juices to compensate water loss in the body. But it is imperative for them to understand that all fruit juices are not good for health.
“It differs from person to person. It is always better to take fresh fruits instead of juices. For, the unhygienic environment prevailing in most of the joints leaves a lot to be desired. Any good preparation keeping in mind the health of the customer is welcome,” she shares.
Doctors advise people to take fruits as a whole instead of making juice. While making any fruit juice, much of the fibre content of the fruit is thrown away as waste. Whereas any fibre-rich food relieves people of constipation.
Repeated advertisements recommending intake of fibre-rich food also drives people to salads.
“Salads are undoubtedly good for health, when not exposed. People should not fall prey to attractive garnishing. They should know what kind of salad is good for health. For adults, fresh vegetables including cucumber, tomato, carrot and greens are good. For kids, in addition to these vegetables and greens, nuts like almonds, cashew and sprouted green gram is healthy,” Ms. Suganya lists.
S. Duraikani, who has been running a small joint at the Manjanakara Street corner in the city for over three decades, says, “Initially, I was selling fruit juices. When I realised that I can contribute better to maintain the health of my customers through salads, I switched to making salads. People do like our preparation, as we include all fruits and vegetables. It is a mixture in addition we garnish it with mustard, salt and pepper for better taste, which are also good for health.”
How good are salads?
Salads at his petty shop are available only during evenings. A plate of mixed salad costs Rs.10 which includes papaya, apple, cucumber, mango, guava, tomato, carrot, beetroot, grape and watermelon. “It is not that we offer only mixed salad, the customer can also choose his own combination of fruits and vegetables. Our salads are available throughout the year,” says his son D. Muthu Kumar.
Any fruit or vegetable rich in water content is good. The safest option is buttermilk with salt or any citrus fruit which keeps a person fresh. “Our mindset tells us to eat only banana after meals. But it gives us only single nutrient whereas a mixed salad provides multiple nutrients. ‘Raitas’ can also be a better option. Salads can be taken any time for breakfast or lunch,” asserts Ms. Suganya.
Too much of anything is also good for nothing. Even salads or fruit juices cannot be taken more than the prescribed limit.
Experts are of the view that better planning in food habit and in scheduling daily routines can help a person escape the brunt of the heat far better.
T. SARAVANAN
Printer friendly
page Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
