With the mercury levels rising steadily every day, summer seems to completely drain everyone out. Temperatures have been scorching high and humidity levels are escalating by the day. In such conditions, your body needs the help of cooling foods that will balance your diet and keep your energy levels stable. The good part about summer is the availability of our favourite seasonal fruits and vegetables! Make the most of them by including them in your diet right away!
Here’s what to include and remove from your summer diet.
Watermelon
True to its name, watermelon is over 90% water. It’s also an even better source of cancer-fighting lycopene than raw tomatoes. At just 44 calories a cup, there’s no reason not to bite into this summery fruit. Avoid buying the chopped watermelon slices sold by the roadside vendors as it can increase your risk of getting diarrhoea.
Salad leaves
Amaranth leaves, rocket leaves, basil and other summer herbs should be tossed together to make a great summer salad. They create a powerhouse of nutrition and are a great way to lose weight. Add in fruits, nuts, peppers, mint or coriander leaves to make a light and lovely meal.
Cucumber
Stay cool as a cucumber! It’s a joy to have a cool bite of this crisp, nutritionally dense vegetable that is packed with nutrients like Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Riboflavin, B-6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc and Silica. Moreover, it helps keep constipation at bay!
Mint
Mint is a simple, easily available, inexpensive herb which you can add to your curd to make pudina raita or have it in the form of chutneys besides using it in dips. Besides having cooling properties, this refreshing herb aids in digestion and provides the perfect detox!
Tomato
Eating tomatoes could give you a little extra protection from the sun: consuming more lycopene—the carotenoid that makes tomatoes red—may protect your skin from sunburn.
Bottle Gourd
This vegetable is rich in calcium, magnesium, Vitamin A, C and folate. The superhero vegetable works well on high blood pressure, keeps the heart healthy and is considered an excellent blood purifier.
Curd
Curd is a delicious coolant in this scorching heat. Used in chaas or dips, curd can stimulate digestion and give your body a calcium boost! Is it advisable to keep a limit on the consumption of curd.
Coconut water
Laden with simple sugars, electrolytes and essential minerals, coconut water helps keep the body well hydrated.
While these foods help boost your health during the summer, certain foods do the reverse. Here’s a list of foods to avoid this season.
- Fried Junk Food
- Excess Dairy Products
- Excess Mangoes
- Spicy Foods
- Alcoholic Drinks
- Soft Drinks
- Garlic
- Excess Tea or Coffee
For all-rounded consultation on the appropriate diet for you this summer, take an appointment with our Nutrition Department.
www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/nutrition.html
