Summers are the time when there is abundance of fresh and healthy foods that can help you to beat the heat. As the days of the summer gets longer and warmer, it might seem impossible to keep cool and bear the heat. The scorching summer heat not only inflates our electricity bills but also poses a challenge to the human body.

As you gear up for the rise in mercury levels, eating the right foods that help in staying hydrated and healthy in the summer heat is of great importance. Luckily, from ripe and juicy plums to watery melons, this season is blessed with fresh produce that are not only seasonal but are super helpful in staying cool and healthy. So, add them to your diet, and beat the heat.

1. Cucumbers:

Cucumbers is a great addition to our list of daily summer foods. They are hydrating letting your body never run out of fluids. Have it as a snack or mix it up into a smoothie with some lemon and mint. It’s made up of 85% of water, and it also soothes and nourishes the skin. You can also use it to make your detox water. Cucumbers are full of valuable nutrients like Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Riboflavin, Folate, and Pantothenic acid, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc and Silica while being naturally low in calories, fats and cholesterol. The lignans found in cucumber are known for boosting the immune system.

2. Tomatoes:

Eating tomatoes could provide you with an extra line of defence against the blazing sun apart from your sunscreen lotions. The lycopene compound that makes tomatoes red, protects the skin from the harmful sun rays. Tomatoes have been long known and used for the prevention of and support against heart diseases and cancers. They are also known to improve bone health. Their anti-oxidant properties help flush out free radicals and toxins from the body. Most vegetables lose a lot of their nutrients during cooking, but not tomatoes. They develop more lycopene with cooking, especially when cooked in healthy fats like olive oil. Tomatoes help keep blood sugar under control, improve vision, make bones stronger, and reduce chances of gall stones and kidney stones.

3. Watermelons:

Staying hydrated during the summers helps in keeping the mood stable and memory sharp. As you sweat a lot during summers, the body loses a lot of water. Watermelons are very useful for this, as they are enriched with the goodness of skin protecting lycopene. They contain 92% water which make them super refreshing and super healthy. Loaded with the goodness of anti-oxidants, watermelons prevent the inflammation and damages caused by free radicals. They keep you energised during the summer along with keeping you hydrated. It helps in many ways to battle back against heart diseases, arthritis, asthma as well as several types of cancers.

4. Mangoes:

Known as the king of fruits, many of us wait all year round for the mango season. Mangoes are rich in vitamin A, which prevents night blindness, dry eyes and other eye ailments. Mangoes keep your skin moisturised, improving the health of your skin as well as your hair. Mangoes improve the health of your body tissues. Rich in micronutrients and antioxidants, mangoes help fight cancer. The Beta-carotene present in the mangoes is responsible for protecting the body against breast cancer, leukemia, colon and prostate cancer.

5. Leafy greens:

Leafy greens have a lot of benefits. They are packed with loads of nutrients and fibres, while being low on calories and glycemic index, thus being the healthiest treat we could give to our bodies. Green foods are great sources of phytonutrients and also have great healing powers. They help revitalise your health as they go easy on glucose levels. They are also very low in sugars and since they’re packed with fibers and water, they help regulating your blood sugar levels.

This post is a collaboration with dietitian Sheela Seharawat. Ms. Seharawat is a successful entrepreneur and founder, as well as chief mentor of the Diet Clinic Health Care Pvt Ltd. You can know more at www.dietclinic.co.in