SUMMER SPECIAL..PLAY IT COOL

PLAY IT COOL

I N SUMMER, your health can take a serious beating if you don’t give it the necessary nutrients to tackle the heat. Here’s what you need.
WATER: Our bodies are 2/3rds water and it’s an important component of food. Think of it as not just a fluid but also a source of essential minerals. These minerals are essential for the body.
BARLEY: This is one of the more effective cooling foods. It is rich in minerals like copper, selenium, tryptophan, manganese and phosphorus. Barley is recommended for stomach ailments like gastritis and ulcers. It is very good for treating kidney ailments. It is popular all over the world in different forms, right from Japan to the US. Barley-based beverages are very popular in summers.
COCONUT WATER: This is one of the best sports drinks as it is rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium. Coconut water is very cooling for the body and also supplies essential electrolytes which are required to tackle the summer heat. It is beneficial for people with urinary tract infections. It is also very good for sufferers of hypothyroidism and water retention.
BROWN RICE: The process that produces brown rice removes only the outermost layer – the hull – of the rice kernel and is least damaging to its nutritional value. The complete milling and polishing that converts brown rice into white rice destroys 67 per cent of the vitamin B3, 80 per cent of vitamin B1, 90 per cent of vitamin B6, half of the manganese content, half the phosphorus content, 60 per cent of the iron content, and all of the dietary fibre and essential fatty acids. Brown rice is very cooling and is recommended for almost all digestive problems. Brown rice khichdi is a must in summers to tackle from heatrelated ailments.
BOTTLE GOURD/LAUKI: Also called dudhi, this vegetable helps keep the body cool in summer. It is excellent for treating liver problems like jaundice, intestinal problems like gastritis and other heat related problems.
Lauki is also very good for people with weak digestion. The vegetable comprises 96 per cent water and minerals. Lauki juice mixed with tomato and beetroot is an excellent weight loss drink. However, always remember to never consume bitter lauki as it can be toxic.
MELONS: Being rich in water and many minerals, melons are an ideal summer fruit. Melon juice can also be made into a summer drink and benefits those with liver disorders, stomach problems, fatigue and other problems connected to the nervous system.

• SHIKHA SHARMA HTBR120513