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The hot season of summer can, at times, be treacherous. Be it from excessive sweating, the way the heat affects our skin, and most importantly, its impact on our body temperature. We often forget to ensure that our water intake is sufficient with our busy lives. This can lead to severe issues in the hot months, as we tend to feel dehydrated very quickly. To combat this, we must see that our body gets enough liquids that keep us hydrated and going. Even including water-rich fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, watermelon, apples, and strawberries can allow our bodies to enjoy the hot season fully. Staying away from sugary sodas, coffee and alcohol in excess and moving towards healthy, hydrating drinks, making the best decision for your body in the summers.
Natasha Kanade, Nutritionist & Lifestyle Coach, Fast&Up Health Expert, shares a list of refreshing coolers to enjoy while you beat the heat
- Lemon juice - The classic lemon juice is the simplest drink you can make for yourself from essential ingredients at home. Made from a mix of water, lemon juice and mint leaves, this drink will help cool the body down. With a rich inclusion of vitamins and antioxidants, lemon juice leaves you feeling refreshed and helps with indigestion after meals. Then, pop a few ice cubes in to enjoy it cold.
- Coconut water - The most popular drink for instant refreshment is coconut water. This drink is high in potassium and aids in hydration, leaving you feeling calm and satiated without any added sugars or preservatives. Rich in electrolytes, coconut water can moderate blood sugar and blood pressure.
- Shikanji - A cold glass of shikanji is everyone’s favourite. Often confused with nimbu paani, shikanji, made from lemon, jaggery, tulsi leaves, ginger and cumin powder, comes with many benefits. Using ingredients readily available at home, rehydrate your body with a cold glass of shikanji to beat the heat.
- Buttermilk - Known to bring down your body temperature, buttermilk or chaas is a simple yet effective drink. Using curd or yoghurt, ginger, salt, mint leaves, lemon juice and cumin powder for spice, this fermented dairy product takes only 20 minutes and will be a tasty treat to enjoy on hot days. The acidic elements help fight indigestion and constipation apart from keeping the body hydrated.
- Kokum water - Another summer coolant rich in vitamins and antioxidants is kokum juice made from the kokum fruit, a dark red coloured fruit. All that is needed is kokum, water, cardamoms and cumin powder. This drink is best when refrigerated to accelerate the cooling effect on our bodies. Kokum sherbet is one of the many ways to ingest the nutrient fruit.
- Barley water - Barley water, made from barley's staple ingredient, aids our body. Helping with indigestion, this fibre-rich drink keeps our digestive tract clear. It also helps lower cholesterol and promotes nutritional inclusion in our diet. Known as a natural body cooler, barley water is rich in minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium.
Apart from consuming cooling drinks, we must also take care of our skin by applying necessary sunscreen against the sun's rays. We must also exercise regularly, which is the easiest way to increase our skin's blood flow, cooling our body down.
