Six summer foods to beat the heat

Sunscreen. Check. Sunglasses. Check. Lime juice, coconut water and pani. Check, check, check.u00a0You might think you're equipped to deal with the crippling heat, but most of us tend to skip out on an important part of our diet as mercury levels rise: summer foods. No, biting into the occasional slice of watermelon or slurping on an ice lolly won't do the trick. Here are six super foods to beat the heat and keep those energy levels high through the day. Yoghurt is enriched with friendly gut bacteria that fights food poisoning, which is common in summerYoghurtThis high-quality protein food provides the body with most of the amino acids required during these months. It has protein and zinc for tissue building, calcium to aid in muscle contractions and carbohydrates for energy. The friendly gut bacteria in yoghurt are especially helpful in fighting food poisoning, cases of which dramatically rise with the heat. Eat your grilled veggies with a yoghurt dip, toss a cup into a fruit smoothie or blitz it in the mixie for a frothy lassi.u00a0 Grilled veggiesThe next time you are at the supermarket, head straight to the veggie counter and stock up on onions, tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, eggplant, celery and spinach. These summer veggies have antioxidant properties that help minimise skin damage caused due to prolonged sun exposure. The B Vitamins help prevent dry skin, rashes, and itching, as well as other skin diseases.Soya BeansIn Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), soya beans are said to relieve summer heat. Take a cue from the Chinese and boil fresh soya beans and drink the cooled broth. Since the beans are rich in protein, they help prevent summer colds. Soya milk in fun flavours are also freely available in the market. You can add soya chunks to caramel custard, kheer and payasam to lower bad cholesterol levels.TamarindSuck on a sweet-sour tamarind or drink a glass of its infusion to prevent heat stroke. Rich in carotenes, Vitamins B and C, and flavanoids, imli reduces fever and protects against colds. It also kickstarts sluggish summer digestion, and cures bile disorders. Apply it directly to skin to heal inflammation.MuskmelonMuskmelon or cantaloupe is known for its high beta-carotene content that gets converted into vitamin A, which is essential for the growth and repair of skin tissue. Melons of any kind bump up your fluid intake. Chop up the fruit and eat it plain or toss pieces of it into a spinach and lettuce salad with cheese, pine nuts and a basic vinaigrette dressing. Else, eat it with ice cream or custard. u00a0