“In the summertime
when the weather is high and you could stretch right up and touch the sky…”
Well yes, summertime is here and though it inspired Shaggy
to belt out this all time hit, I guess the weather here has the reverse effect
on us. The excruciating heat coupled with the high humidity saps our energy in
no time and leaves us completely dehydrated.
The most crucial factor to keep ourselves up and running in
the summers is water. Yes good old H20. It’s the basic and most potent
weapon to counter the blazing heat. One should drink plenty of water throughout
the day. Because of the high humidity, of our region, we sweat a lot and it
takes out precious water from our systems .So regardless of the activity levels
it is imperative to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Very often we wait till we are thirsty to tank
up; well, thirst is not the correct indicator for our hydration levels. Being
thirsty means that you have been already dehydrated for quite some time. So,
don’t wait till you are thirsty; keep a bottle of water handy and keep sipping
at regular intervals. Another advantage of drinking water is that it helps to
lose weight-yes, you heard me right! Drinking ice cold water burns up
additional calories. So drop in a few cubes of ice in your glass of water and
melt those spare tyres!
It is hard to resist that bottle of
soda, more so with the mercury rising day by day. But hold on. Because the soft
drink is not only going to fill your body with lots of unnecessary sugars, the
phosphorous in it will affect your bones, kidneys and gastrointestinal tracts.
So even though we label those drinks as “soft”
in reality they are not that harmless. So though it is tempting to reach out
for that bottle, its best avoided. Instead go natural for a change. Coconut water,
lemon water, buttermilk is very good for the summers. It helps to replenish the
lost fluids and also serves as energy boosters. Water Melons, too, are good for
the heat. They contain about 80% water. So they have a pronounced cooling
effect on the body. Pure and fresh lemon juice is one of the best summer
drinks. The vitamin C in it will give a boost to the immune system and its refreshing
tangy taste will give an instant surge of energy. So get a couple of lemons,
squeeze them out, add a bit of sugar or salt for taste; pour in some chilled
water and you get an all natural refreshing drink ready.
Summer is
the season for a variety of berries and fruits. So forget the apples and
oranges for the moment, and get the mangoes out. Loaded with fiber and a number
of vitamins, mangoes offer wholesome nutrition for the summer. And a quick
recipe for the ones with the sweet tooth- dice a couple of alphonso mangoes in
neat cubes; add a couple of scoops of low fat vanilla ice cream-Sheer Bliss!! And those on high protein diets, can add the mangoes to the protein shake; it will be a good wholesome meal replacement drink. Mangoes can be substituted with lychees which are available quite easily.
Summertime is the boom time for germs and
gastro intestinal infections. So it’s best to avoid food from road side
vendors. I guess it wouldn't be quite pleasurable to keep on running to the loo
in this heat!! As should be the case throughout the year rather then only in
the summer, it is best to avoid high fat and spicy food. Lightly cooked meals
with minimum addition of masalas and spices will not only help you stay cool
but also help in keeping your system in good running order.
