Summer Foods: What to Eat and What Not to Eat

Summers, typically the most dramatic, hottest, and challenging time of the year, have started to envelop us in its warmth! It would help if you made a few changes to help tackle the heat this summer, including clothes, travel, and food preferences. The rising temperatures will directly impact your body’s thermoregulation, potentially leading to increased perspiration, dehydration, and a heightened risk of severe heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

This summer, you should quickly shift your focus from thirst-inducing, inflammation-inducing, deeply fried, and spicy foods to deeply hydrating fruits and veggies rich in water content to keep you refreshed.

Meals that are easy to digest in this unbearable heat will help maintain your energy levels throughout the day and won’t weigh you down in the scorching heat and high temperatures. Do you need help with the food options? So, here’s the list of food items you should eat and avoid during summer. 

What Foods to Eat During Summers 

Here is the list of summer food items you must add to your diet for a refreshing and nourishing way to stay hydrated and energised during the hot months.

• Cucumbers: They are 100% refreshing and hydrating with ample water content and a perfect snack to beat the heat.

• Lemon Water: Rich in Vitamin C, lemon water is a thirst-quenching beverage. It also helps with hydration and digestion and provides a refreshing zing in the summer. 

• Leafy Greens: Rich in essential nutrients and water content, leafy greens like kale and spinach are perfect for summer meals. 

• Yoghurt: Rich in protein and other essential nutrients, yoghurt provides probiotics for gut health and keeps you energised and healthy during summer. 

Note: You can also try nutritious yoghurt-based smoothies and shakes for a delightful twist! 

• Watermelon: Rich in water content, watermelon is a hydrating and naturally sweet fruit providing a burst of refreshment during summer. 

• Berries: Packed with antioxidants, berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries can be a delicious addition to your summer meals. They help hydrate your body. Try berries with yoghurt to make fulfilling, hydrating, nourishing, and delightful smoothies. 

• Citrus Fruits: Fruits such as oranges and grapes are rich in Vitamin C, making them highly opted and perfect summer foods for coping with the heat. They keep your body hydrated and energised for longer hours. 

• Grilled Vegetables: These are the perfect alternative to heavy meals, offering a satisfying, lighter, nutritious, and tastier option for summer meals. 

• Cold Soups: Soups such as gazpacho and cucumber soups are perfect for the summer season, as these soups are deeply hydrating, nutritious, and easy to digest while providing a burst of flavour and helping to cool you down. 

• Iced Herbal Teas: Known for various health benefits, iced herbal teas are perfect for summer! They soothe digestion, boost immunity, and add a delicious twist to your daily meals! 

• Coconut Water: Packed with electrolytes, coconut water is an excellent choice for hydration on hot summer days. 

What Foods Not to Eat During Summers 

Below is the list of food items that you should avoid consuming during summer: 

• Processed Snacks: These foods contain high sodium levels and artificial additives, which can lead to dehydration, bloating, and discomfort in the summer heat. 

• Deeply Fried Foods: These foods are highly greasy and heavy, causing digestive discomfort and sluggishness, especially in hot months. 

• Spicy Foods: Consuming highly spiced foods in summer can cause dehydration and increased body temperature, leading to discomfort. 

• Excessive Caffeine: Consuming excessive caffeine daily can dehydrate you and increase the frequency of urination in summer, further impacting your body’s hydration levels. 

• Alcohol: Consuming alcohol in summer can lead to dehydration and impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses.  

• Sugary Drinks: These drinks provide empty calories and can lead to spikes and disturb blood sugar levels, contributing to fatigue and dehydration in the summer heat.

• Heavy Meats: These are heavy to digest and can leave you feeling lethargic and uncomfortable in the heat, as the body expends more energy on digestion, potentially leading to dehydration.

• High-Fat Dairy: Products like full-cream yoghurts, cheese, butter, and heavy creams can be heavy on the stomach and cause digestive issues, especially in the summer months.

Conclusion 

Foods have a direct impact on our body’s energy and hydration levels. Eating the right food can boost our immunity and digestive health. Incorporating nutrient-rich, light, and hydrating foods will help you easily cope with the heat, keeping your body hydrated and refreshed throughout the day.

Conversely, avoiding processed snacks, fried foods, and excessive caffeine or alcohol intake can prevent dehydration, digestive discomfort, and heat-related illnesses. By making mindful food choices, you can optimise your summer diet for improved health and vitality.

FAQs

Which food reduces body heat?

Citrus fruits rich in Vitamin C help reduce body heat in summer. 

What foods to avoid during eating?

You must avoid deeply fried and heavily spiced food items to safeguard your digestion from discomfort and illnesses, especially during summer. 

Is banana hot or cold?

 According to Ayurveda, a banana is a fruit that is considered cold in nature. 

Which food causes heat in the body?

Chocolates, spicy foods, fried foods, eggs, ginger, mangoes, garlic, and fermented foods cause heat in the body. 

Which food is best in hot weather?

Sandwiches, salads, and cold soups are perfect addition to your diet in hot months.