9 Best Foods To Keep You Cool in the Summer
The temperatures are rising in the speed of the light! What do I do to cool down? Where do I hide? Heeeelp!!! Lol. Just joking. One of the best ways to keep cool in the summer is by changing our diet. If you want to find out how to cool down in the summer by paying closer attention to what you eat, keep reading!
As the seasons change, so must change what we eat. To adjust to the hot summer wheather, the food we eat must be refreshing and done with minimum salt or oil. It´s recommended to eat less, but more often. We should also definately avoid skipping the breakfast in order to prevent a sudden drop in pressure and the collaps of organism that can happen in the summer because of the heat.
Eating right in the summer will help us handle the heat much better and keep us healthy!
So...what are we waiting for? Here are some tips :)
1. Drink A LOT of fluids in the summer
Be it water, cooled teas, juices, smoothies... Fluids will help keep you cool and prevent dehydration. You should also avoid drinking a lot of alcohol, but I think a summer cocktail won´t do any harm ;)
2. Become a vegetarian!
In the summer you should avoid eating "heavy meals" with a lot of meat and fried food. You should eat a lot of fruits, especially melon, watermelon and berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, cranberries or blueberries. They are filled with water to keep you hydrated and rich with antioxidans and vitamin C to ward off all the free radical damage!
3. Salads!
Salads are the queens of summer! You can make them in variety of ways. They are great because they are super healthy, yet they can be made quickly without spending too much time in the kitchen next to a hot stove. You can make really tasty salads with green leafs, pasta or whole grains. Check out some ideas on how to make great summer salads here.
4. Chilled soups!
Eating warm soups in the summer is a real torture, because it warms you up too much! The best thing you can do in the summer is let the soup cool down before you eat it. This way you have all the health benefits of a soup without feeling like you´re in the seventh circle of hell! :D Check out some refreshing, chilled soup recipes here.
5. Tofu
Tofu is ideal for the summer. It is an excellent source of amino acids, iron, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids and other micro-nutrients and is also naturally gluten-free. It prevents cardio-vascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and liver damage. It also promotes a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy, and overall lower weight. You can easily incorporate tofu into your diet. The firm tofus are great for grilling and stir-frying, soft tofus work well in casserols and soups, and silken tofus are great for puddings, dips and smoothies.
6. Yoghurt
Yoghurt is another great summer food! It´s cool and healthy! Yoghurt is a good source of calcium, protein and vitamins B6 and B12. You can eat it plain, mixed in your smoothie, mixed with polenta....You can make a salad dressing with it, or a healthy home-made ice-cream! The imagination is all yours! Yoghurt is also a probiotic, which literally means "for life". Yoghurt contains "good bacteria" that are necesarry to keep our digestive system balanced and can result in health benefits if eaten in adequate amounts. Yoghurt can help prevent osteoporosis due to high leveles of protein and calcium, it prevents high blood pressure, helps the gut and may discourage vaginal infections.
7. Red lentils
Red lentils are awesome because they are MEGA healthy, and you can prepare them in 10 minutes! Yes that´s true! They are good for muscle generation due to all the essential amino acids it contains, they control diabetes due to high fiber content, they help in weight management and keep our nervous system healthy. Red lentils are also rich in iron which is needed by the body for the optimum hemoglobin production.
8. Fish
Fish is a great choice for the summer, because it´s much lighter than other meat. Fish contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids which reduces inflammation in our body and helps prevent any kind of heart disease. It is recommended to eat fish at least once or twice per week. Fatty fish, such as salmon, herring, sardines and tuna contain the most omega-3 fatty acids and therefore have the most health benefits.
9. Seeds
Get yourself some sesame, flax, squash or sunflower seeds. They are loaded with minerals and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Use it daily in your salads or other meals, or simply nibble them throughout the day.
In the summer, it is also very important to spend most of our time outside on the fresh air. Fresh air is the most essential element to sustain life. Without oxygen our cells die in 3 minutes. That´s why it is so important to spend time outside and give your body what it needs to be healthy and strong. Oxygen purifies the blood, soothes the nerves, stimulates appetite, brings life to the skin, as for the lack of oxygen skin nearly dies. It boosts our immune system, reduces depression and sparks creativity. Of course, don´t forget to put sunscreen on! So, what are you waiting for? Jump into the summer! :)
References: "Summer" by Jadranka Boban - Pejic; www.webmd.com; www.medicinenet.com, www.organicfacts.net, www.mayoclinic.org, www.medicalnewstoday.com, www.aqua4balance.com
