Blazing and sweltering summer is making its existence felt, in every possible way. Along with the temperature, this seasonal transition affects our diet as well. Just like there are foods that warm our body to help us stay healthy in the winter, there are also foods that help our body cool down when the weather is hot.

Exactly as we do not wear the same clothing in summer as in winter, we should not eat the same foods. Moreover, summer is not the season to gorge on food, for if we succumb to our tastebuds, we risk ending up with various types of stomach aches.

Eating seasonally is a right way to stay in balance with your environment, so the best summer eating strategy is to find ways to satisfy hunger and thirst while staying cool.

Cool drinks

Nothing related to summer more than a nice cool drink. However, we should avoid having too much of fizzy, carbonated beverages as they are filled with artificial sweeteners, colours and flavours which do us no good at all and instead opt for natural healthy drinks.

Though nothing beats plain pure water, here is a list of drinks that you can sip this summer.

• Watermelon juice is a great thirst quencher which contains all the minerals required for the body including magnesium, phosphorus, iron, etc.

• Lemonade (limo paani) provides us with is a good source of vitamin C. It improves immunity and is excellent as a thirst satisfier due to its cool nature (you can add a pinch of rock salt and cumin powder to enhance its taste!)

• Coconuts water is an invigorating natural drink that also has a cooling effect on our body and is absolutely fabulous in taste.

• Blended and chilled beverages made from fresh fruits — smoothies — take care of our mineral requirements in the summer when the soaring temperature depletes all the water and salts from the body.

• Thandai — drink made of almonds, milk and rose petals — is another wonderful idea for hot summer days that offers a superb source of calcium, protein and is very fulfilling.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is another refreshing food that is especially good to have during summer. The high calcium content in curd is essential for our strong bones, while useful bacteria present in it fight off the digestion related diseases. You can either have it as it is, with rice, or in the form of lassi or chhachh.

Cold soups

Cool soup can prove to be a nutritious and revitalising summer meal. Turnips, squash, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are water-packed vegetables from which amazing chilled soups can be made. For a refreshing change, add yoghurt, coriander or mint to the stock. Apart from being hydrating, soups will also help you to eat less and thus stay lighter.

Fruits

Yummy, full of water and refreshing, fruits are deservingly crowned as the ideal summer foods as they keep us hydrated and cool in hot temperatures. Many fruits have water content of 80 per cent or higher, with a champion watermelon containing as much as 95 per cent! Fresh fruits are full of fibre and compounds that improve our health and prevent diseases. Choose from the wide range of watermelons, melons, citrus fruits, plums, leeches, mangoes, grapes and other juicy fruits as tasty munchies to beat the heat.

Fresh vegetables

And, of course, do not forget about the greens — probably, the best summer foods! They have very high nutritional value and are packed with useful natural minerals and microelements. The deeper the green, the higher is the nutrients quantity. Make sure to include parsley, dill, lettuce, basil, spinach in your diet to benefit from therapeutic powers of these gifts of our Mother Nature.

A good serving of salads can perfectly complement your summer meals. In fact, chopped cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, beetroot, lettuce, with lime juice and a dash of salt, can make for a filling and appetizing meal in itself.

Remember, keeping your tummy cool during the hot summer months helps you stay cool in terms of your temperament and behaviour.