The love for the summer season knows no boundaries, starting from fresh ripe mangoes to ice cream to chilling in the pool or enjoying different foods to beat the heat. There is absolutely nothing that you can hate about this season! Well, apart from one single thing, and that is – sweat and the scorching summer sun!
It is important to keep yourself constantly hydrated. Long hours in the sun can take a toll on the body and can cause heat stroke and heat exhaustion, which is characterized by dizziness, nausea, tiredness, weakness, muscle cramps, and sunburn.
Diet plays an important role in keeping one hydrated, so it is best to switch to a diet that is not only light on the stomach but also refreshing and cooling on the body. Here is a list of food that one must include in their diet to keep themselves hydrated.
1. Sweet potato is also known as the edible sunscreen and is packed with carotenoids such as beta carotene and lycopene, and Vitamin E which helps soothe sunburn, reduce inflammation, and also helps relieve heat cramps.
2. Indian Bael: The juice of this fruit is an excellent choice to combat heat exhaustion. Due to its high-water content, the fruit helps replenish the lost fluids from the body caused by excessive sweating, keeping the body hydrated.
3. Coconut Water is a natural electrolyte that is rich in potassium and magnesium. It can hydrate your body and thus balances the temperature-generating electrolytes naturally.
4. Water-rich fruits such as watermelon, kiwi, and muskmelon effectively hydrate the body and these fruits are packed with nutrients like lycopene, vitamins A, B6, and C, antioxidants, and amino acids that give your body the much-needed boost of nutrients to sustain the harshness of weather.
5. Red Onion has a compound called quercetin that can act against histamine and thus relieves pain and discomfort caused due to the cramp. Its juice is also effective in treating sunstroke as well as sunburns.
In conclusion, the summer season can be challenging, but by incorporating these foods into our diets, we can stay cool, hydrated, and healthy. Although diet does play a contributing role in managing body heat, it is also important to note that along with diet one should take other precautions like applying sunscreens, carrying water at all times, and also possibly staying in during peak hours of sun.
Dr Anish Desai is MD, Clinical Pharmacologist and Nutraceutical Physician, Founder and CEO IntelliMed Healthcare Solutions
