With the beginning of the hot and sweltering summer heat, begins the feeling of dehydration and sluggishness. Heatwaves can also lead to headaches, dizziness, and heatstroke.

What you need to know:

6 foods that have a high water content

Drinks to beat the summer heat

6 foods that have a high water content

Heatwaves can make you avoid all foods, except ice cream, of course! However, it is important to stay hydrated and healthy, especially during a heatwave. Take a look at 6 foods that have high water content.

You must have heard of the phrase – as cool as a cucumber! That is what cucumbers do to you. Made of 95% water, cucumbers help you cool down and are refreshing. Since it has low calories, you can chomp on this body cooling food as much as you want without feeling guilty. It can be added to salads or you can have one sliced along with your favorite spices and a pinch of salt.
Tomatoes are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds and the antioxidant lycopene which is considered a potent cancer preventer. Tomatoes are loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, making them a great summer food. Be it in a salad or a sandwich, you can slice up a tomato and use this fruit in your daily meals.
Leafy green vegetables like spinach also have high water content. Radishes are a powerhouse of riboflavin, calcium, magnesium, and fiber. Celery too contains 95% water.

Beat the summer heat with the cooling effect of watermelons, derived from its component citrulline, which later gets converted into arginine in the body. Arginine is a component required to produce nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels, improves blood flow, and protects your heart from attacks.
Interestingly so, chillies or spicy peppers contain an ingredient called capsaicin which can help you survive the heat. It raises the body’s inner temperature to match the surrounding temperature and your body sweats it all away to cool down.
Curd can be used in so many manifestations – in buttermilk, raita, and lassi. Curd is an exceptional probiotic, and if consumed daily, it keeps your digestion in check and prevents gastrointestinal problems that are caused due to excess heat.

Drinks to beat the summer heat

Your water intake capacity is replenished more frequently during a heatwave. High temperatures and humidity increase the speed of evaporation from the skin, causing us to sweat more. If drinking plenty of water does not do it for you, you can also load up on coconut water, buttermilk, lemon water, kokum sherbet and fresh fruit juices as often as you can to keep your body temperature in check from within. Hydration is not only about increasing your water intake. When you perspire, you also lose out on sodium and potassium. Therefore, mix some electrolytes in your water.

During a searing heatwave, it is best to avoid heavy and heat-inducing foods such as red meat, fried foods, spices with high chilli content, and processed or salty foods. Consuming excess salt can cause an electrolyte imbalance in your body, leading to a spike in your blood pressure and increased perspiration.

Stay healthy this summer. To get more knowledge about lifestyle and mindfulness-related topics, visit the Activ Living page.