Top foods for summer include watermelon, cucumber, coconut water and yoghurt, since they are refreshing and easy to digest.
When the mercury is on the rise, it’s important to ensure the heat doesn’t unseat you. Keep yourself hydrated, not just if you are a regular exerciser, but also if you are on the move all day. Staying cool during the summer is essential, since you lose water through sweating and exertion, in the sun.
Here are some foods we recommend, to keep you healthy:
#1 Watermelon
Such an efficient reservoir of water is watermelon, that your grandmother may have cautioned you not to drink water after eating this. Indeed, watermelon contains 92% of water, making it the ideal fruit for summer. In addition, this has a high Vitamin C content and antioxidant properties, that help boost your well-being.
#2 Coconut water
One of the closest substitutes to water, coconut water is the perfect fill-in (pun intended) for water on any given day. A glass of coconut water has several electrolytes, and is a natural oral dehydration solution, so to speak. But just make sure you opt for the fresh kind, instead of the packaged variety.
#3 Soup
Before you write this off as an absurd suggestion for summer, hear me out. Soup doesn’t have to drunk piping hot. You can opt for the cold variety too, such as the delicious original Gazpacho, which is so easy to make. Or, you can make your favourite tomato soup, top it with chopped fresh mint, and drink it chilled.
#4 Salads
Salads are a smart choice for summer. Eat them in place of meals, or as a healthy, appetizing snack. For if there’s any dish that’s versatile, it’s salad. So, just toss together a bowlful of your favourite vegetables and fruit, and dress with some olive oil and lemon juice.
If you’re keen on a protein element, add some chopped roast chicken. In case you are a vegetarian, you can add tofu, or seeds. Just get creative!
#5 Radish
Although radish probably doesn’t strike you when you think of hydration, the reality is that these crunchy white vegetable comprise of 95.3% water! Radish is full of antioxidants that include catechin (also found in green tea). So eat this with a squeeze of lemon juice, for the best benefits.
#6 Cucumber
At 95% water content, this crispy vegetable has the highest water content of any solid food! You can eat cucumber in your salad, sliced up with mint chutney, or blended into a smoothie. Or you can make cold soup with this, and sip it gratefully, at the end of the day.
#7 Strawberries
With a 91% water content, strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C, folate, fibre and antioxidants. Eat them alone, or with some yogurt, or vanilla ice-cream. Or dip them in dark chocolate, for a real mood-boosting treat.
#8 Yoghurt
If there’s one food guaranteed to help you cope with the heat, it’s good old yoghurt. Whether you eat it plain, or topped with chopped fruit, yogurt has probiotic qualities, that are healthy enhancing. So add it to any food you like, or blend it into a smoothie. Remember, variety is the spice of life.