Easy Ways to Beat the Heat this Summer

It’s no surprise that as the temperature rises, we naturally gravitate towards picking up an ice-cold Frappuccino, an iced lolly or a glass of cold tetra packed mixed fruit juice but are these really the right choices?

Below are my top tips that mainly focus on proper hydration and choosing the right foods to help you stay cool, calm and happy this summer and keep the chapped lips, mild headaches and sweaty feet at bay.

Do…

1) Increase your intake of the right kind of fluids: This one comes as no surprise but keeping yourself hydrated with lots of water and fresh nutrient packed juices like coconut water is the easiest way to stay hydrated. And it’s not just how much you drink but how frequently you do that makes all the difference. Gulping down 2 litres of water towards the end of the day is not the solution… keep sipping on small amounts every 30 minutes to replenish your body with the water you lose. Most people I talk to are not big fans of this suggestion, but I highly recommend staying away from ice cold fluids and getting into the habit of consuming liquids at room that help with better assimilation and rehydration.

2) Eat your water: It’s a genius way to stay hydrated especially if you find it difficult to drink 3+ litres of fluids per day like me. Think of fruits like melons, cantaloupes & berries and vegetables like gourds, cucumbers & green leafy options that are high in water content and contribute towards your fluid needs besides packing in micronutrients to help you glow this summer sans that bronzer.

3) Load up on cooling foods: Don’t worry, you are not alone when it comes to this rather ambiguous concept of cooling and heating foods. It’s only over the last 2–3 years of building mindfulness around my eating and self-awareness about my body has this concept started to sink it. This summer try to observe the connection between what you eat and how you feel and start building meals around it. When it comes to cooling foods, think sabja aka basil seeds, aloe vera, apples, broccoli, potatoes to allow your body to soothe that internal fire. I replace chia seeds with sabja seeds for a creamy dessert like breakfast pudding in the summers or make a broccoli and potato salad for lunch to keep it light and energizing.

Don’t…

1) Consume too much caffeine: Caffeine is a major dehydrant so staying away from it will serve you well this summer other than the occasional iced latte. Replace your teas with herbal concoctions and tisanes and your coffee with some cold chocolate. Not to mention, this also helps keep your energy levels stable without major highs and lows for an easy breezy summer season.

2) Junk on too much sugar or salt: Have you ever gone through an entire bag of popcorn or a plateful of gobi manchurian only to feel thirsty after. That’s because the salt levels are off the charts and leave your body severely dehydrated. Sugar, similar to salt, when consumed in large quantities leaches water so be mindful of the portion size of the sugar laden ice creams and salty nuts you indulge in this season.

3) Load up on heat promoting foods: I love changing up my meals and snacks to complement the seasons not only because it helps my body and mind stay balanced but also because it keeps my food interesting and diverse in flavours and textures. Most spices, peppers, garlic and ginger fall into this category so although it may be natural for you to reach for that spice cabinet or have your glass of lemon ginger water each morning keep your foods mildly spiced this season and consider packing in more flavour by using lots of cooling herbs like coriander, mint & basil or spices like fennel & saffron and opt for a simple lemon water with every sunrise.

Happy Summer Days! And if you have any other tried and tested tips to help beat the summer heat, comment below.