Healthy food for this summer

Its summer time and you as well as the others are drinking water like thirsty men in desert who have chanced upon a pond! But in the midst of all this guzzling to prevent dehydration we are all neglecting our diet! Sure the body needs oodles of water during summer to replenish the lost fluids, but what many of us fail to realize is that our bodies require a special summer diet too!

Here are some of the food that can make your summers cool:

Vegetables- Food items with high water content should be on the top of your list every time you venture out to shop during summers, as the water content in these foods will help hydrate your body from within. Foods such as onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower and sprouts should be found on your dinner plate this summer as they all serve to cool down your body from within while providing you with the daily quota of nutrition.

Non Veg- For those who feel empty without their regular quota of meat, there is a tasty alternative available in fish. These fish are not only are cooler on consumption as compared to the red meat or chicken that would have been the preferred fare otherwise, but also have high amounts of fatty acids such as Omega -3 and Omega - 6 which are found in very few other food items such as eggs and some other vegetables.

Gooseberry (Amla): Eat enough and this gooseberry might give you goose bumps instead of sweat stains. Not only is amla a great refresher, it'll also reverse the ageing effects of the strong Indian sun and give you added stamina for gym sessions. It strengthens the heart, hair and different glands in the body, as well and can be drunk at any time of the day.

Apricot: If you're prone to skin breakouts or acne in the summer, apricot's can really help you. They provide the body with iron, vitamin C, potassium and fibre a handful to the gym and enjoy them as a great pre- or post-workout snack.

Butter milk: Butter milk can kick diet soda's ass. It is one of the healthiest bracers in hot summer months as it is the residue left behind after the fat in milk has been churned to produce butter. Glug a glass a day to avoid dehydration and avoid digestion issues.

Cardamom (Elaichi): Look no further than your cup of elachi chai for an instant cooldown. Cardamom, an original Indian spice, is commonly used in Ayurveda for almost any ailment from halitosis to digestion and has wonderful detoxifying properties to effectively cool down even the most hot-headed days. Africa, jealous much?

Corn: Nothing elevates work stress more than a malfunctioning air conditioner. So pop some corn. It's a good source of pantothenic acid, which provides vitamin B to lower stress levels. Boiling corn for a snacker or a lunch takeaway as it lowers cholesterol levels and is high in essential carbs.
 
Mango: Skip Katrina's aamsutra adverts and focus on the real fruit. Chilled mangoes are the juiciest way to cool off, but if you're looking for a bit of spice, try this: Unripe mangoes are a rich source of pectin and when steamed and juiced with cumin (jeera) and salt, they provide an excellent remedy for heat strokes and exhaustion in summers.