Summer is a season that spares no one. While I was prepared to drench in sweat and bicker about humidity this summer, like every other year, what I didn’t anticipate was a *major* heatwave kicking in and disrupting my peace totally. In the past few days, functioning as I would has become challenging, courtesy of the impossible-to-cope-with heat that’s taken over my sanity. I know, the scathing heat has vexed you completely too. And, left you dehydrated like never before. So, I reached out to some of the best nutritionists and asked them to share their favourite superfood to keep the hydration level at check during summers.
Image: Pexels
“Coconut water is one of the best drinks to tackle heat in summer. It is low in calories and contains natural enzymes and minerals like potassium. Have this super drink first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to ensure double health benefits. With cooling properties, coconut water contains lauric acid which helps to boost immunity, kick-starts metabolism, and fight dehydration and constipation. Add mint, honey and lemon juice to coconut water to have a soothing and soulful experience.”
– Dr Siddhant Bhargava, fitness and nutritional scientist, co-founder, Food Darzee
Image: Shutterstock
“Traditional to Kolkata and Bihar, Sattu is an extremely cooling food that hard-working labourers usually eat for their main meals, because it not just keeps them full and provides quality protein but also keeps their bodies protected from the scorching sun. It is also light on the digestive system.
I call Sattu the great Indian protein shake. Sattu is Bengal gram or chana dal flour which is roasted and mixed with a little cumin powder or even coriander. This superfood has existed in our country for decades.
A cooling agent that naturally brings down your body temperature, sattu is also a pure protein source and rich in fibre, calcium, iron, manganese, and magnesium. In fact, a combination of buttermilk and sattu works as a great summer drink.”
– Luke Coutinho, holistic nutrition and lifestyle – integrative and lifestyle medicine & founder, YouCare
Image: Shutterstock
“A superfood which I highly recommend is Bael a.k.a Wood Apple. Wood Apple also known as Curd fruit and Elephant apple contains trace levels of all nutrients. It’s a refreshing drink for the summer. The taste of wood apple pulp is tangy andâ¯sweet. It should be taken throughout the summer. One can definitely try bael sherbet, bael lassi, or bael murabba to cool down your body. The fruit is heavenly and aids in the prevention of not only sunstrokes but also other health issues.”
– Anupama Menon, nutritionist & holistic wellness and food coach
Image: Pexels
“One affordable and easily available superfood is sweet basil seeds or sabja seeds – a must-have during the summer. Sweet Basil seeds are rich in iron, protein, Vitamin A, K, magnesium, manganese, and folic acid. It boosts collagen production to keep your skin supple and healthy. The rich antioxidants and flavonoids in Sweet Basil seeds fight wrinkles and fine lines too. Iron, vitamin K, and protein promote hair health. It effectively reduces hair fall and enables you to reach your luscious hair goals. While temperatures are rising, it’s essential to include superfoods like Sweet Basil seeds which help you replace electrolytes and water that you have lost while excessively sweating during the summer months. Soak it for a few minutes and then add it to your coconut water or simply water!”
– Anju Valecha, head nutritionist and co-founder, Simvalecha
Image: Shutterstock
“To maintain body health, ensure that your meal contains curd and lassi with mint leaves, at least once in a day. For all those who suffer from constipation, gas and acidity in the summers, this one is an absolute must have. If you are lactose intolerant, you can add hydrating fruits such as watermelon, melon, cucumber etc, in your meals. Essentially keep yourself hydrated with normal water or infused drinks. Add-on tip: Add gond katira (tragacanth gum) as a coolant in any drink. Prefer to consume fruit smoothies or buttermilk as mid snacks rather than packed fruit juices.”
5 Morning Drinks For Clear Skin
Morning drinks play an important role in body metabolism and the stomach-cleansing process. Starting the day with sipping one or two litres of water helps clear all metabolic waste from the body and, in turn, leads to clear skin. Similarly, there are other morning drinks that are helpful for getting clear and healthy skin for both men and women. Dr Stuti Khare Shukla shares five essential drinks that you can start your day with for a glowing and healthy skin.
Water Therapy
Image: pexels.com
Drinking a good amount of water gives wonderful results. Our body consists of 75 per cent water in the form of fluids, and water has several functions that keep skin clean and healthy; dehydration, on the other hand, makes our skin dry and itchy. Consuming an average of 4.5 to 5.5 litres of water daily boosts your body with minerals and oxygen carriers, releases all toxins from it, and results in maintaining the electrolyte balance of the body with skin moisturisers, preventing acne.
Honey And Lemon Water
Image: Shutterstock
Add two to three spoons of honey and a spoon of lemon juice to water as this acts as an electrolyte and produces antioxidants and anti-ageing components. It helps in cleaning out harmful toxins from your body and also helps in weight loss. While honey has anti-ageing nutrients that keep your skin moisturised, lemon contains vitamin C that helps in new cell and skin rejuvenation.
Fruit Juices
Image: pexels.com
Fruits are rich in vitamins and micronutrients. Fruits like carrots, beetroots, pomegranate and even vegetables like sweet potato have rich minerals and vitamins that help in preventing acne and boost healthy skin. Carrot and beetroot contain vitamin A that prevents acne, wrinkles and pigmentation, and helps maintain healthy skin, Beetroot juice provides good blood circulation and keeps skin healthy. Even salads, of tomatoes and cucumbers, can also prevent acne if these salads are included in one’s regular diet.
Green Tea
Image: pexels.com
If you are a tea lover, add green tea or lemon tea to your diet. It prevents acne and contains vitamin C along with other nutrients that keep skin naturally healthy and glowing.
Turmeric Milk
Image: Shutterstock
Turmeric is a traditional and Ayurvedic medicine that acts as an antibiotic and antiviral agent. It is rich in antioxidants that retard the ageing process. Adding one spoon of turmeric to milk or hot water every morning can give good results for healthy skin.
Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/303079
https://integrisok.com/resources/on-your-health/2019/march/the-health-benefits-of-superfoods
https://www.livescience.com/34693-superfoods.html
https://www.femina.in/wellness/diet/5-morning-drinks-for-clear-skin-186862.html
