Ten cool summer foods you must have to beat the heat

Nature has its unique ways of taking care of us. Every season nurtures different foods that further nourish our body as per what it needs, summer being no exception.

#1 Curd: It is a delicious coolant. It contains power boosting whey proteins, which are excellent for muscle growth and repair. It is a natural probiotic and helps in increasing the growth of good bacteria in the stomach.

You can also enjoy it as chilled buttermilk to keep off the heat and stay hydrated.

#2 Tomato: A rich source of antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin C, lycopene which help in boosting immunity, relieving stress and decreasing inflammation in the body.

In addition the cooling effect, tomatoes help in protecting skin from sun damage.

#3 Coconut water: It is a natural energy drink with the right mix of natural sugar, sodium and potassium. It helps in maintaining alkaline pH and has a soothing effect on digestive system.

The cytokines and lauric acid have anti-aging effect and help rejuvenating the skin

#4 Watermelon: Juicy, yummy and healthy, makes watermelon the summer super food. The high water content can help you escape dehydration in the heat while maintaining the electrolyte balance with its sodium and potassium content. It can satisfy your sweet craving without shooting the blood glucose levels too high, as it is low in glycemic load.

The amino acid L-citrulline makes watermelon a healthy post workout snack as it helps in improving recovery time and reduces muscle soreness.

#5 Cucumber: This crunchy vegetable is rich in fibre and water content, which can help restoring digestive health. It is rich in B-vitamins that buffer damaging effects of stress. It is high in antioxidants, which reduce inflammation.

It can also release excess heat in the stomach and relieve acidity.

#6 Mint: This iron rich herb is synonymous to freshness. It can boost immunity and has an anti-allergic effect.

It helps in relieving stomach cramps and acidity.

#7 Onions: Onions have strong cooling properties. They can provide protection against sunstroke. It is very easy to add onions to every meal in a traditional Indian diet.

You can relish it as part of salad, curry, raita. They are rich in quercetin, which is a natural anti-allergen.

#8 Sabja seeds: These are Indian version of Chia seeds. They have cooling effect on the body. They are rich in fibre, essential amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids.

They help in stabilizing appetite and increase metabolism.

#9 Mango: This Indian fruit delicacy is rich source of vitamin A, which is a strong antioxidant and can help clean your skin.

Unripe mangoes are a rich source of pectin and when steamed and juiced with cumin and salt, they provide an excellent remedy for heat strokes and exhaustion in summers.

#10 Bananas: They are able to clear intestinal heat, adding moisture and eliminating toxins. They are rich in potassium, B-vitamins, magnesium that help in keeping blood pressure under control, enhance your brain power and keep your skin glowing.

They are a good remedy for heartburn, can help get rid of hangover.