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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Beat the heat in a healthy way

The heat outside is sweltering and all you feel like doing is spending the day indoors in the comfort of an air-conditioned room. However, since most of us aren't blessed with such luck, we are forced to step out into the heat, be it for work or for pleasure. Health too becomes a big concern during this season, as diseases like jaundice and chicken pox ruling the roost. We give you a few tips to beat the summer.


Sipping in the summer sun:
You would have probably heard it a million times before, but then, it's only because it works. Keep yourself hydrated — drink plenty of water. However, rather than just grabbing that bottle of ice cold water from the fridge, drink water that is as close to room temperature as possible. Better still would be to drink lukewarm water, or water out of an earthen pot, as this will quench your thirst better.


Keep it fresh:
Freshly-cut fruits and vegetables make for great snacks during the summer. Ideal fruits to eat during the season would be watermelon, pineapple, guava, sweet lime, oranges and grapes, as they are very refreshing. Salad vegetables like lettuce, cucumber, carrot and tomato also add a zing to your diet and taste great too.


Dessert temptations:
Let's face it, there are some cravings that are natural and desserts top the list. Although there is nothing wrong with a bit of indulgence, it is advised that you don't binge. Desserts to indulge in during the summer would be chilled treats like custard, jelly or milkshakes — they are not just refreshing, but nutritious as well.


Probiotic nutrition:
What works best for all those who count calories is fermented rice. Cold rice, fermented overnight, works great as does buttermilk, when taken with some citrus pickle or onion. They are cooling and provide the necessary probiotic nutrition for the day.


Mix it up:
Fruit mixes work wonders during the summer. Good recipes for fruit mixes would be an orange-watermelon mix, topped with pineapple and a dash of lime.