Beat The Heat - Naturally!

Summer was never as scorching as it is this year! Temperatures have been soaring across the globe, making summers hotter and longer every year. And this takes its toll on our bodies, our skin, our health if we do not take proper care and caution. We all know about various simple ways to beat the heat, which do not consume a lot of time or effort, but require consciousness and consistency. Following the below tips certainly go a long way in protecting ourselves from the scorching effects of the sun, like skin darkening, dehydration, sunstroke or digestion problems.

·         While going out in the sun, remember to apply sunscreen/sunblock, carry an umbrella and wear cooling shades

·         Drink lots of water, more than you normally drink (ideally 2-3 litres) to keep your body hydrated

·         While travelling, carry a bottle of plain water or water with a pinch of salt and sugar, to avoid guzzling on colas to quench your thirst on the road

·         Sip a glass of cane juice or tender coconut water instead of going for a cup of tea or coffee

·         Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, specially the ones with higher water content, like watermelon, orange, sweet lime, grapes

·         Avoid too much spicy or fast food, as they are harder to digest this season

·         Instead of having ‘fruit drinks’ which are packed with preservatives and sometimes less than 20% fruit content, drink fresh fruit juices

·         Include yoghurt in your diet in the summer – add it in your salad, have it with parathas, use it with fruits for shakes, make yoghurt drinks or just have it plain.

To make summer a bit more exciting, I try to add some zing to the drinks I make from natural ingredients at home, as our bodies need a lot more fluid in summers than the rest of the year. You could try some of them, and add your magic touch of innovation as well J

Watermelon-Orange Punch

Ingredients: ½ Watermelon peeld and cut in pieces (seeds removed), 1 orange peeled, a small slice of giner, salt and sugar to taste

Method: In a blender/mixer, add the above ingredients and mix well. You may slowly add the salt and sugar to get your desired taste. Add a few ice cubes if you want it chilled and run the mixer again. Your watermelon-orange punch is ready in less than 5 minutes.

Tangy Carrot Drink

Ingredients: 2-3 Carrots peeled and cut into small pieces, juice of 1 lemon (or lime), a small slice of ginger, 1/3 tsp ground pepper, salt and sugar to taste, ice cubes (optional)

Method: Mix all the above ingredients in a blender/mixer, while adding the salt/sugar/pepper slowly to get your desired sweetness/saltiness. Add ice cubes and run at the end if you want a cold juice. Serve fresh.

Chilled Mango and Yoghurt Delight

Ingredients: 1 mango peeled and cut in pieces (you could use mango pulp available in tins as an alternative), 1 cup plain yoghurt, a pinch of salt, sugar to taste, a pinch of ground pepper or chaat masala (you could use roasted and ground jeera/cumin as an alternative), ice cubes (optional).

Method: Blend all the above ingredients in a mixer till all the mango pieces have been crushed and mixed uniformly. You could try adding a small slice of ginger as a variation. You could serve this immediately, or chill in the fridge for a while before serving.