Fulfil your Essential Summer Nutrition by including these Foods in your Diet

Stay healthy this summer by avoiding dehydration and by including these nutrient rich foods in your diet. Although there is nothing such as bad food, there are certain foods that are more nutritious than others. During summer, the body loses more water than usual due to sweating and change in temperature. The diet needs to be high in water content to cope up with the summer. Now if you are looking for quick summer recipes this is a good time to focus on overall health and wellness by adding these summer superfoods in the diet.

Here are few summer foods to incorporate if you are looking to boost the energy, protect the immune system or require much needed nutrients in the body

• Make sure to add fruits in the diet and make them your best friend: There are a variety of fruits such as cantaloupe, watermelon, berries, mangoes, muskmelon, etc.in summer. Fruits help to stay hydrated, aids in weight loss and helps to beat hunger pangs. For example, watermelon is the hydration hero of the summer and is a must to beat the heat. The great water content in watermelon helps in staying hydrated, cool and feeling full. It also contains lycopene that protects the skin cells from the damage. The cooling watermelon, basil, cucumber salad is a must add on in the diet to stay cool in the scorching heat. Tomatoes are also good to include as the bright red colour is due to the presence of lycopene that protects them from ultra violet rays of sun and can protect the cells from damage in the body when consumed in any form. They are also good in potassium, vitamin b and other nutrients that have shown to lower the blood pressure.
• Hydrating infused water: There should be more consumption of water than usual in the summer season. For some added flavour and nutrition a variety of fruits can be added to help in detoxification and to consume water throughout the day. Coconut water, cucumber mint and lime water are great examples. For example mint when added provides a great refreshing and cool taste.
• Vegetables in salads or juices to snack wisely: Veggies add more nutrition and hydration such as Zucchini. These contain a fiber called pectin that helps in lowering the blood cholesterol and helps in increasing heart health. Corn and herbs stuffed zucchini is a great dish to add to the diet. Cucumber is also great for hydration and has fiber that helps in keeping constipation at bay. It is a great summer snack or added to salads.
• Curd or buttermilk: These are great coolants and the protein helps in satisfying the growling tummy. These add a dose of prebiotics that helps in keeping the digestive system running smoothly.

Footnote:

While you are spending time outdoors or indoors with family, these summer superfoods are ideal to add in the summer recipes that are light and refreshing. The ingredients that are consumed during summer can make a difference between a much needed energy boost or a lazy summer afternoon naps.