Healthy Fruits for Summer

The famed Indian Summer is here and the dog days last a solid 4 months, starting March.

Mercury is already soaring in most parts of India and it would be June before we can expect anything resembling relief from the relentless heat, if rain gods are merciful this year, that is.

Summer months are hard to deal with as the energy levels are low. The heat saps the energy out of us and to make matters worse, the tempers tend to closely follow the mercury.

That’s enough scaremongering. Let us get down to exploring the ways to survive, even thrive, this summer.

• Starting your day early and ending your day early is recommended.
• Time to take out your cotton clothes, if you have not already done so. Loose fitting cotton clothes ensure that your body is kept cool, no matter what the outside temperature is.
• Avoid going out in the sun, but stay in the shade if you must. Always carry an umbrella or a hat.
• Use a good quality sunscreen to protect your skin.
• Always carry a bottle of water. This single most important precaution can keep you hydrated and can dramatically increase your chance of avoiding sunstrokes.
• Avoid eating out as the scarcity of water has a direct bearing on the level of hygiene practiced by food vendors.
• Avoid eating deep-fried food. The salt used as a preservative in packaged food can make you thirsty quickly.

Food in summer months needs to be healthful, light, and nourishing to keep our energy levels high and our body temperatures down. Here are some foods that can do the job for us.

• Curds: Curds or yogurt is a coolant par excellance.  Make lassi, buttermilk, and raita your best friends this summer.
• Fresh fruit: Some people just depend entirely on this excellent and healthy source of nourishment to see them through summer months.
• Tender coconut water: Another summer favorite that is full of simple sugars, electrolytes, and minerals which can keep us hydrated and in excellent spirits.
• Watermelon: Being basically made up of 92% water and 6% sugar, it makes for an excellent summer food.
• Cucumber: Apart from its cooling properties, it is full of fiber – great for avoiding constipation.
• Vegetables: Some can be eaten raw in a salad, while others can be cooked. Boiled vegetables are nourishing, healthful and filling.
• Lime water: This time-tested and simple concoction is a great way to beat summer heat.

At the very least, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and to avoid infections. Dehydration can creep in on us faster than we would like to believe is possible.

Outbreaks of cholera and diarrhea due to food contamination is common in summer. To protect yourself, stay away from food vendors as much as possible.

Sticking to home food is the best way to stay healthy during summer.