Beat the heat with right food and skin care

LUCKNOW: The soaring mercury is leaving people high and dry in Lucknow. With little chances of respite in the days to come, it is only right food that can help beat the heat.

Health experts feel that a regulation on diet is a must as maximum cases of diarrhoea, food poisoning and cholera are reported during this season. “It is important to maintain the electrolyte balance in the body to keep the body cool and functioning. This can be done by ensuring that there isn’t any dearth of liquids in the body,” says Prof UC Ghoshal of department of gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).

Cooking food at high temperatures, eating only freshly cooked food and ensuring proper hygiene can help to a great extent, he adds.

Ghoshal says that people suffer heat stroke only if there is shortage of liquids in the body. Thus maintaining the liquid levels and increasing intake of water, salt and fresh juices can be helpful. To prevent typhoid, cholera and jaundice during the season, avoid dirty water and cut fruits, say experts.

Without compromising on nutrition, it is right selection of foods that can make summers a light and healthy experience. Here are some food tips to beat the heat.

CURD A MUST

In addition to keeping the body cool, curd is also a source of calcium and vitamins. “The bacteria in curd help in digestion and increase immunity,” says yoga expert Mohit Singh. He also advises substituting meals with curd and related products including smoothies made by blending curd with fresh fruits.

“A bowl full of curd or a glass of smoothies made with fresh fruits and curd are a complete meal. They are filling, light and nutritious,” he says.

SAY NO TO SPICY, OILY FOODS Doctors say that the temperature within human stomach is around 35 degrees. Spices, heavy meals and oilbased foods only add to the temperature. This increased temperature during summers can be disastrous. Adding too many spices only adds to heat inside the body, says Mohit.

Digestion of heavy foods depletes the levels of water further. The result is fatigue, poor concentration and decreased metabolism. Oil contains fat, which, on entering the body, produces a thermal effect and increases its temperature, say medical experts.

FRESH FRUITS, JUICES

Fresh seasonal fruits including watermelon, musk melon, litchi, lemon etc add to the water content in the body, which is badly needed by the organs during the season. More of fruits and traditional drinks including aam panna, drinks made of sattu, watermelon juices etc should be consumed each day, say experts.

However, they feel that more intake of juices doesn’t mean less intake of water. Minimum 3-4 litres of water is a must during this season.

SAY NO TO CAFFEINE & ALCOHOL

Doctors say that high caffeine content dehydrates the body and thus should be avoided during the season. Such drinks only add to the sugar contents and addictives in the body. This further contributes to the body heat and can be harmful during summers.