On hot days, many people are looking for a refreshment and how to keep their body hydrated and cool, in this article we will discuss The Best Foods to Fight the Summer Heat.
Many people imagine that the only way to hydrate the body in the summer is to eat ice cream and soft drinks, but this belief is wrong, as there are many healthy foods that can be eaten to fight the summer heat without harming the body.
Choosing foods that are high in water can help keep the body hydrated. Learn about the top 10 foods to face the heat.
1- Watermelon to Fight the Summer Heat
Watermelon contains 92% of water, which makes it ideal for overcoming the feeling of heat, especially as it is a delicious summer fruit. Therefore, watermelon should be included among the main fruits that are eaten this season.
In addition to its high water content, watermelon provides a range of important nutrients for the body, including:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Magnesium
- Powerful antioxidants, including lycopene
However, watermelon is not high in calories, providing only 46 calories per cup.
Watermelon can be eaten in the following ways:
- Snack between main meals.
- Add it to fruit salad.
- Make refreshing watermelon juice.
2- The Strawberry to Fight the Summer Heat
Strawberry contains 91% of water, which is also a high percentage, which makes it one of the most prominent moisturizing fruits for the body.
In addition to water, strawberries provide a variety of beneficial nutrients, most notably:
- Fibers
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin C
- Folic acid
- Manganese
Eating strawberries helps reduce inflammation in the body, thus protecting against heart disease and diabetes.
It is easy to include strawberries in the diet followed, in one of the following ways:
- Eat it fresh.
- Make strawberry juice.
- Incorporate them into the salad.
3- Cantaloupe to Fight the Summer Heat
Cantaloupe contains 90% of water, is a nutritious fruit that promotes health, and does not contain a large percentage of calories.
One cup of cantaloupe contains a group of useful nutrients, the most important of which are:
Saturated fiber
Vitamin A
You can eat cantaloupe in one of these ways:
- Cut it up and eat it fresh.
- Add it to the salad.
- Making cantaloupe juice
- Add it to yogurt.
4- Peaches to Fight the Summer Heat
The percentage of water in peaches is up to 90%, and it is rich in a wide range of elements, most notably:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B
- Potassium
- Fibers
However, the calories in peaches are low.
It is easy to add peaches to the diet in these ways:
- Add it to smoothies.
- Add it to the salad.
- Add it to yogurt.
5- Orange to Fight the Summer Heat
Summer oranges contain 88% of water, as there is approximately half a cup of water in one orange, in addition to a group of other important elements such as:
- Fibers
- Vitamin C
- Potassium
Thus, orange helps in boosting the health of the immune system and preventing diseases.
Oranges are also rich in powerful antioxidants, including flavonoids, which may prevent cell damage by reducing inflammation.
Hydration is an important factor in preventing the formation of kidney stones, so eating oranges regularly reduces the chances of developing stones, especially as it contains citric acid that can bind to the stone-forming calcium oxalate, which helps to expel it from the body.
Summer oranges are usually eaten as fresh juice with a distinctive taste, and it is advised to avoid adding sugar to it.
6- Cucumber to Face the Summer Heat
Cucumber contains 95% of water, and it is almost composed of water and contains only a small percentage of other nutrients such as:
- Vitamin K
- Potassium
- Magnesium
The option does not contain large calories, as half a cup of cucumber provides only 8 calories, and therefore it is possible to eat large quantities of it without fear of weight gain.
There are many options for adding cucumber to your diet, including:
- Eat it fresh.
- Add it to cheese or salads.
- The cold cucumber mask on the face helps moisturize the skin.
7- Lettuce to Fight the Summer Heat
Lettuce contains 69% of water, as one cup of lettuce provides more than a quarter cup of water, in addition to 1 gram of fiber, and it also provides 5% of the daily need for folic acid.
In addition to the above nutrients, lettuce contains high levels of the following vitamins:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin K
Although lettuce is full of fiber, it is low in calories, as one cup contains only about 10 calories.
It is easy to include lettuce in the diet through the following methods:
- Eat its fresh leaves after washing them well.
- Add it to salad.
- Add it to sandwiches and various dishes.
8- Soup to Fight the Summer Heat
Many people imagine that eating hot soup increases body heat, but on the contrary, soup is an essential source of hydration, as it consists of a large proportion of water, and therefore has the ability to hydrate.
It is recommended to choose a vegetable soup that provides hydration without adding ingredients that increase weight. The most important vegetables that can be added to the soup include:
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Tomatoes
9- Zucchini to Fight the Summer Heat
Zucchini contains 94% water and is a nutritious vegetable that provides many health benefits.
One cup of sliced zucchini provides about 90% of water, and one gram of fiber, ensuring hydration and a feeling of fullness at the same time.
As a result of their high water content, zucchini is low in calories, as one cup contains only 20 calories.
In addition to water and fiber, zucchini contains a range of important nutrients, most notably vitamin C, which is important for a healthy immune system.
To include zucchini in the diet, you can choose from the following methods:
- Eat it alone as a side dish.
- Add them to soups and salads.
- Cut them into slices to make “noodles” that can be used as a substitute for regular pasta.
- Add tomato sauce to it to make a delicious vegetable dish for lunch.
10- Celery to Fight the Summer Heat
Celery contains 95% water, which is healthy and very hydrating food in hot weather, and its calories are very low, as one cup contains about 16 calories, which is useful for weight loss.
In addition, celery contains some fiber and a lot of nutrients, the most important of which are:
- Vitamin K
- Potassium
It is easy to incorporate celery into the diet in the following ways:
- Eat it raw or cooked.
- Add it to soups and salads.
- Eat celery sticks with a healthy dip like hummus or Greek yogurt.
In this article we have discussed the best foods to fight the summer heat, it’s very important to keep your body hydrated all the time and avoid direct contact with sunlight especially at noontime.
References
Jennifer Berry. Hydrating foods: The top 20 and their benefits
Natalie Monson. Summer Foods That Are Healthy, Hydrating, and Easy
Brianna Elliott. 19 Water-Rich Foods That Help You Stay Hydrated
