! “One has to keep oneself sufficiently hydrated throughout the day – at least 8 to 12 glasses. Replenish the loss of electrolytes with coconut water, lemon juice, butter milk, jaljeera and fresh vegetable and fruit juices,” says consultant dietician . During summer one must not eat heavy meals. “Eating small yet regular meals rich in carbohydrates, low-fat protein and lots of fresh fruits and veggies is advisable. Whole wheat pastas and brown rice helps the body produce cortisol, the anti-stress hormone. Try to cut down on coffee, fizzy drinks and cocoa,” says Dr Nirmala Shetty, a naturopath and beauty therapist. Eating something light every three hours is advisable. Eating salads with some tofu and vegetable soups are the best options for a light dinner.
Water-based fruits and vegetables like oranges and cucumber are a must-have in this weather as they prevent bloating and keep one feeling light. “Eat watermelons in summer; this water-based fruit helps fight dehydration. Watermelon is cleansing, alkalinising, diuretic and mineralising. Watermelon is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium – nutrients we lose through our perspiration,” adds Dr Shetty.
Also one must drink coconut water as it is refreshing and extremely useful for re-hydration. Coconut water relieves exhaustion by replenishing the natural salts lost by the body.
So, here are few refreshing recipes to beat the heat:
Tangy Orange
Ingredients:
1 orange
1 small portion of white gourd
Few celery leaves
½ a carrot
Method
Grind the above ingredients in a blender along with one cup of water.
Strain it and add half roughage back.
Add a pinch of rock salt.
Drink immediately else it loses vitamins.
Green grass juice
Ingredients:
1 small bunch of fresh wheat grass
1 tomato
1 apple
A few slices of water melon.
Method
Blend peeled apples, water melon and orange (de-seeded)
Strain and add a pinch of salt
Add half roughage back.
Drink it fresh.
Panha
Ingredients
2 raw mangoes
25gms of jaggery
2 glasses of water
½ spoon jeera powder and salt
Method
Boil two raw mangoes till they are soft
Remove the skin and seed use only the pulp
Add jaggery and blend along with two glasses of water and mango pulp in blender.
Strain it and add salt and jeera powder.
Serve chilled.
Thandai
Ingredients
1 litre Milk
Soak 8-10 almonds in water for two hours, peel the skin
½ spoon cardamom powder
A few dried rose petals
1 spoon poppy seeds
Few pieces of black pepper seeds
½ spoon fennel seeds
6 teaspoons of sugar
Method
Soak aniseed, almonds, pepper, poppy seeds and rose petals in half cup of water for 30 minutes.
Peel off the skin of the almonds.
Then make a smooth paste of the all ingredients.
Strain it properly and blend it along with milk and sugar.
Serve with ice.
Lemon and mint juice
Ingredients
2 glasses of water
4 spoons of sugar
Paste of fresh mint leaves
Juice of 1 lemon
Chaat masala (optional) or rock salt
Method
Mix in water, sugar, mint paste, lemon juice and rock salt.
Blend it in a blender.
Serve chilled
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