If you are on a weight loss diet, one of the best additions you can make to your diet is of fruits and vegetables. While there is no dearth of fruits and veggies out there, it is important to select the right ones that would particularly facilitate weight loss. One such fruit that is considered to be apt for any weight loss regime is apricot. The fuzzy and furry fruit has the tendency to fill you up instantly, thanks to the presence of healthy fibres.

As per the nutritional data of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), about 100 grams of fresh apricots provide 12% of daily requirement of vitamin C and 12% of vitamin A. According to the book, 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing House, "Low in calories yet high in fibre and many key vitamins, apricots can be eaten fresh or dried, and the leaves and kernels can all be used." If you eat apricots in breakfast, you are likely to stay satiated till lunch time as they are quite filling. This will keep you from getting your hands on fattening foods by keeping cravings in control.

A healthy weight loss and healthy digestive system are synonymous to each other. For our body's metabolism to function optimally, a good digestive health is of utmost importance. A poor digestive health hinders the body's ability to assimilate nutrients effectively and efficiently, leading to slowing down of metabolism. A sluggish metabolism could be one of the major reasons why you are not able to see results even after following a healthy diet. Apricot's high fibre content helps in bowel regularity, which further keeps constipation at bay.

While there are many ways of savouring apricots, many people also consume it in the pickled form. Eating pickled apricot is a good way to stimulate digestion as it contains probiotics that are beneficial for the gut. Other than this, you can also poach the apricots lightly and have them along breads. Though this fruit is nutritionally-dense , it is always good to consume it in moderation as excess of anything in diet could possibly do more harm than good to your body.

So the next time you plan to have a plateful of fruits, go a step ahead to meet your weight loss goals by making this fruit a part of your fruit chaat. Squeeze some lemon on top of it and savour a healthy and delicious treat.

As much as you would like, an ice cream can't help you cool down in the scorching heat of this summer. Although one may argue that one feels just fine after ice cream, the truth is that it's only temporary. Cooling foods are what you should have as they help to cool heat and cleanse toxins from the body.

Here are some of the foods that help cool down your body naturally:

1. Cucumber - Not surprisingly, being 'cool as a cucumber' actually holds true. Cucumbers are fruits that help keep the body hydrated. Keeping your body cool during hot days is vital to your health as it can help prevent a number of complications such as heat strokes and dehydration. Munching on cucumber slices and hummus is a good way to beat the heat and stay cool.

2. Watermelon - This quintessential beach fruit is yet another one which would help you beat the heat. This seasonal fruit acts like an internal air-conditioner, and is rich in water, helping in reducing body heat to a large extent while keeping you hydrated.

3. Peaches - Peaches are not only delicious but are very rich in vitamins A and C, which help in keeping your body cool. Besides, these vitamins also help in maintaining healthy skin and provide useful calories to the body.

4. Apples - Apples are fruits that help to fill you up and cool down your body at the same time. They contain about 4g of fiber and around 95 calories and are enriched with a soluble fiber called pectin, which stops hunger and helps in shedding weight.

5. Pineapple - Along with banana, cucumber, and some other fruits, pineapple helps to make a healthy smoothie. These ingredients have cooling properties, which hydrate the body and help to clear the heat. Also, pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which reduces inflammation in the body.

Some more tips to help you cool down are as follows:

1. Avoid caffeinated or carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, and those high in sugar - All these drinks contain preservatives, colours and sugars. They are acidic in nature and act as diuretics. They cause loss of fluids through urine.

2. Do not drink very chilled liquids - They do not really help cool you down in summers, though they make you cool for some time. Drinking really cold liquids when feeling hot may lead to a slight constriction of the blood vessels in the skin and decrease heat loss, which is not advisable when trying to cool down.

3. Limit all strenuous activity.

4. Eat light, nutritious and non-fatty meals.

5. Reduce intake of heaty vegetables and fruits, like spinach, radish, hot peppers, onions, garlic, beetroot, grapefruit and ripe mangoes (if you cannot resist mangoes, soak them overnight in water).

Undoubtedly, eating fruits contribute to good health and provide a range of other benefits to your body. Nevertheless, you must follow some simple guidelines so that you eat fruits the right way. Eating fruits as and when you like doesn't do much good. Therefore, it is essential to know when and how to consume fruits in order to fully avail the benefit from it.

The right time to eat fruits:

1. Eating fruits in the morning is preferable as you gain all the nutrients your body requires which keeps you nourished and energized. Eating fruits on an empty stomach promotes good health and helps you shed the extra kilos. Additionally, it also prevents digestive problems and keeps you in good shape as your body fully absorbs all the vitamins, good carbohydrates and fibers present in the fruits.

2. Eating fruits between breakfast and lunch is also an option that can help you maintain a proper diet. If you choose to have your fruit after breakfast, it is essential to adjust the proportion and time of both the meals accordingly. Taking fruits after breakfast keeps you full for at least two hours, thereby ensuring proper digestion. Make sure you balance your meals accordingly and do not end up overeating.

Why fruits should be avoided after meals?

1. Even though fruits have high nutrition value, it also contains calories. If you consume a bowl of fruits just after your meal, chances are that your body may get more calories than it requires. No matter how healthy fruits are, eating them after meals can cause significant weight gain. Also, you must not make your diet fruit heavy as then your body is deprived of nutrition present in meats, vegetables, dairy products and whole grains.

2. It is of utmost importance that you avoid eating fruits just before going to bed. Fruits contain a lot of sugar which can, in turn, increase your energy levels thereby keeping you awake when you need to sleep instead.

Therefore, taking fruits at the right time is also very important to gain the utmost benefit from them.

Kachchi kairi, or raw mango, is etched in all of our summer memories, as strongly as are the scorching winds, the uncomfortable heat and the relentless Sun. One of the perks of living in a tropical country like India is the opportunity to indulge in yummy thirst quenchers prepared from summer favourites, of which raw mango has the widest appeal. Kairi ka panna or a drink made from green (raw) mangoes is made across the country at the advent of summers, and stored in glass jars to be served to guests and family throughout the day. Nothing spells relief quite like the sensation of sipping on cool khatta-meetha kairi ka panna that has been spiced with black salt, cumin powder and ginger powder. Street vendors selling pieces of kachcha aam also start cropping up here and there, offering passers by a temporary respite from the sweltering heat. We all love to munch on raw mango and drink its juice because it's simply delicious, and it tastes of nostalgia. But, there's a reason our mothers always keep a stock in the fridge and feed us kairi pickle during the summers - they are very healthy.

Here are some amazing raw mango health benefits:

1. Protects From Intense Heat And Dehydration

Drinking juice of raw mango during summers is more than a mere exercise in palate pleasing. The drink reduces the effects of intense heat and prevents dehydration, by stopping excessive loss of sodium chloride and iron from the body. These minerals often tend to leach out into your sweat, during summers, making you dehydrated.

2. Cures Stomach Troubles

Raw mango is also consumed for its action against gastrointestinal disorders, which tend to go up during the summers. Raw mangoes are often prescribed to people with morning sickness, constipation, diarrhoea, chronic dyspepsia and indigestion.

3. Good For The Heart

The ever-so delightful fruit may also do wonders for your heart. The presence of niacin makes raw mangoes heart-healthy fruits. Niacin reduces risks of cardiovascular ailments and improves blood cholesterol levels.

4. Treats Scurvy

Raw mango powder, or amchur, is believed to be an effective treatment for scurvy, which is often characterised by bleeding gums, rashes, bruising, weakness and fatigue. This is because raw mango is extremely rich in vitamin-C, the deficiency of which causes scurvy. The same vitamin also promotes elasticity in blood vessels and promotes formation of red blood cells.

5. Promotes Health Of Liver And Intestine

Raw mangoes are great for the liver, and are believed to treat liver ailments. Chewing on raw mango pieces initiates bile secretion into the small intestine, where it increases the absorption of fats and also kills harmful microbes present in food.

6. Gives An Energy Boost

Having a little bit of raw mango powder cures the afternoon drowsiness that often takes effect after your meals. This is because raw mango gives your body an energy boost that wakes you up and helps you perform well.

Nature has fortified raw mango with a number of vitamins and minerals, which make it an effective antidote for a lot of summer ailments. Not that we needed any more reasons to consume raw mango chutneys, pickles and drinks, but these health benefits are certainly encouraging, aren't they?

Fruits are a superfood category of their own. They are the powerhouse of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants and an excellent contribution to your diet. Consuming them daily can provide you with some amazing health benefits and keep you away from unnecessary ailments.

Here are ten fruits you should be eating daily:

Apples: There is a reason why an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are filled with antioxidants, soluble and insoluble fibre and quercetin. Antioxidants boost your immunity and the fibre provides you with energy and maintains a healthy bowel, while quercetin has anti-allergy and antihistamine (compounds which curb the effects of histamine, primarily used to treat allergies) properties.

Grapes: Grapes contain an antioxidant named resveratrol, which prevents heart diseases and premature aging of your cells. In addition, they are also great sources of folate and vitamin B6, C and A which contribute to a healthier immune system.

Bananas: Bananas have low sodium and high potassium levels. Thus, they are extremely beneficial in maintaining blood pressure and preventing strokes. Bananas also contain protease inhibitors, which prevent stomach ulcers (protease is a digestive enzyme that produces acid).

Strawberries: Strawberries might be small, but they do pack a lot of nutrients! A handful of strawberries daily can prevent diabetes type 2, inflammations and heart disease. They are also rich in antioxidants and vitamin C.

Papaya: Papayas contain a substance called ‘papain’ which is an incredible digestive stimulant. They also contain large amounts of folate, which helps in proper DNA repair and synthesis.

Oranges: Oranges provide you with vitamin C and potassium, which are essential for enhanced muscle and digestive functions. The membrane between orange segments contains hesperidin, which has been proven to reduce cholesterol.

Kiwi: Kiwi contains more vitamin C than oranges which grants them the ability to prevent DNA damage and also help reduce risks of developing cataracts.

Blueberries: Blueberries are a great source of antioxidants which aid in fighting cancer and macular degeneration (an eye disease which results in vision loss). They also contain compounds that protect you from urinary tract infections.

Lemon: Lemons contain citric acid, which effectively lowers cholesterol and cuts down on body fat. Citric acid is also an excellent digestive stimulant. Also, the refreshing scent of lemons reduces anxiety, nervousness and fatigue.

Grapefruit: Grapefruit is an excellent appetite suppressant, which cuts down on your cravings. It also contains a soluble fibre named ‘pectin’, which lessens the development of atherosclerosis (build-up of cholesterol and fats on the walls of the artery). However, refrain from consuming grapefruit if you are on prescription medications.

The above discussed fruits contain some amazing benefits that ensure all your body functions run smoothly. Hence, start having them from today only to enjoy a healthy life ahead.