Be cool...literally

 

Its sizzling hot nowadays. Its imperative to beat the heat to be healthy & energetic .Controlling our outer environment is the first  strategy ( staying indoors , bathing ,  summer clothing ,  fans, ACs etc). The second one,which I discuss in some detail, is to  take  control your inner environment to keep body cool naturally by what we eat and drink.

The first principle is to eat foods with less thermogenic effect .All of us burn calories at rest to maintain the body functions  . This is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) . This is what keeps our body warm. In winter when outside temperatures are cool , we want to increase to BMR to feel warm .  So we tend to and need to eat foods that increase BMR like proteins especially  animal proteins like chicken , egg etc . In summers we need to decrease the BMR as outside temperatures are too hot. For this we need to eat foods that have less thermogenic effect like carbohydrates ,vegetables, fruits . To sum it up , in summers avoid or decrease quantity of  non vegetarian foods & use  less spices like chilli & pepper for cooking . 

The second principle is that we take more water & electrolytes. We loose lot of water &  electrolytes in summer through sweat & through breathing . So its crucial to increase the intake of fluids & electrolytes to maintain the balance . 

These are some very useful tips to achieve both these goals .
1) Take more water & other fluids like tender coconut water & freshly made juices . It is the most important step to stay healthy .
2) Take seasonal vegetables & seasonal fruits.  The fruits and vegetables that grow in the season help us to really stay healthy for that particular season .
Fruits that are especially useful are watermelon, musk melon, ice apple ( munjalu/nungu)
Vegetables that are especially useful are gourds -  ash gourd ,bottle gourd, ridge gourd   & snake gourd
5) Take millets especially ragi
6) Take  fermented foods like chaddi annam/ pazhaya soru
7) Cut down on coffee/tea/caffeinated drinks ( cold coffee,s ports drinks )
8) Take buttermilk/lemon juice / home made fruit  juices( without added sugar )
9) Use water in mud pot ( which is cooled naturally)
10 ) Add  Himalayan black salt  instead of regular white salt  to foods as its is richer in electrolytes like potassium , magnesium etc than regular salt . Do not replace the iodized common salt completely though .

 
AVOID these drinks as much as possible
1) Cool drinks
2) Sports drinks
3) Sodas
4) Sugary juices ( esp packed ones )
5) Ice creams ( Yes they cool to eat but they have lot of calories so ultimately increase body heat ) 

Make these smart  food choices to  help you to stay cool literally & beat the heat.