Summer Fruits to stay Cool

Some believe that when nature comes down harshly at a place and people, say the parching summer prevailing in northern India at present, it also provides antidotes for surviving it. Seasonal fruits and vegetables constitute the survival kit, and one has to understand how and why they work.
You might have noticed that most fruits that flood the market this time are rich in fluids and minerals. The best re-hydrator is the familiar water-melon. As the name implies, it is abundant in water. Several helpings throughout the day help prevent dehydration and maintain skin turgor.
The musk or honey melon also acts in a similar manner, drawing water and minerals from sandy riverbeds and bringing it to you with added flavors. They contain a lot of polyphenols; minerals and vitamins that help the body cope with summer heat. Cucumber and “kakri” are water laden as well. When had with salt, they help correct water and sodium deficiencies that hot winds and sweating cause.
Nature seems to have craftily dealt with other shortcomings that our body encounters in this season. Mango, the king of all fruits, makes it appearance with powers to counter the heat. Raw mango juice (aam paana) prepared with generous amounts of salt, is a very good remedy for heat related disorders – it fortifies the body with vitamins (C and A), minerals and water and also serves as an energy food with its large amounts of sugar and fibre.
Of the many ingredients that papaya contains, one is pectin that keeps the bowels coated and protected form seasonal infections. It also contains an enzyme called papain that helps our digestion.
Litchis are loaded with energy in the form of sugar and fat. They make excellent snacks and are cooling as well. One needs to watch the calories though. Guava is another fruit that is rich in vitamin C and fibre and makes an excellent summer snack or salad.
Summer vegetables are equally craftily designed to provide high contents of water, minerals and vitamins. Bitter gourd, or for that matter all gourds are popular in summer for their hydrating and cooling abilities. Bitter gourd is also an appetite stimulant and helps bring down sugar levels that tend to rise with excess consumption of mangoes and watermelons.
Nature often has a design that we sometimes overlook. Hence while exotic foods like broccoli and cabbage may have their time in winters, enjoying the fruits and vegetables of the season to beat the heat makes more sense.

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