With the temperatures breaking records now, one should try and become more conscious about their health and wellbeing. This season is known to be very brutal for those who eat and drink with no regard for their wellbeing; staying fit and healthy should be top priority for everyone.
The most common health issues reported during summer are reflux and acidity. Symptoms of acidity like heart burn, bad breath, sour tongue and reflux are experienced when excessive heat in the body leads to the production of high amount of acid. Food being one's medicine, one must be watchful about what they eat, and design their diet on the basis of how helpful and healthy food could be. Let us introduce you to the food items that will make your summers less acidic:
Water And Fluids
Maintaining the water and pH level of the body is extremely crucial. Increase in the intake of plain water, coconut water, lemon juice, kokam sherbet, cold milk, buttermilk, etc. is important. Coconut water is a natural diuretic as well as one of the richest sources of potassium and minerals. It helps in excreting toxins out of our body and should be consumed regularly.
Cold Milk
Inclusion of cold milk in your diet would help in absorbing the excessive acid produced in the stomach. Adding 1 tbsp of chia seeds in cold milk, gives the best results for those suffering from acidity.
Curd And Buttermilk
These are the most recommended items for surviving summers, both curd and buttermilk are the best-known probiotics. It keeps one's gut healthy by protecting the lining of stomach and improves overall digestion.
Fruits
They are not just natural antioxidants but power boosters of vitamins and minerals. Rich water content, potassium, magnesium and fibre in fruits makes it best bet, especially during summer. We always recommend opting for whole juicy fruit, rather than consuming its juice. Fruits like amla, guava, oranges and sweet lime are rich in vitamin C. Ice apple, white jamun, muskmelon and watermelon are great sources of potassium and magnesium, which are known to maintain the hydration levels of the body. Banana is one of the most commonly consumed home remedy to tackle acidity, as its fibre content makes bananas a natural antacid.
Vegetables
Vegetables like bottle gourd (lauki), padwal, pumpkin, cabbage, cauliflower are beneficial due to their high water and mineral content. A special mention here goes to cucumber, as it contributes towards body's hydration. Capsicum is also known to have a neutralising effect on stomach acids. Varieties of salads and cold vegetable soups are recommended for consumption during summers.
Jaggery
Jaggery is known to be very effective because of its magnesium content. It not only improves our immunity, but also regulates the body temperature. Jaggery water would be of good help in treating acidity and its symptoms.
Other Foods That You Must Consider Eating In Summers
Sipping lemon water with basil leaves and a pinch of salt added to it, and chewing fresh sugarcane is also a good way to deal with the rising temperature, since these are natural coolants.
Excessive consumption of beverages such as tea, coffee, alcohol, soda etc. increases the acidity and reflux problems. Spices like red and green chili, pepper, mint, and chocolates are known to be acid producing agents. Hence, it is better for people who suffer from acidity to avoid the consumption of these items. But, we can definitely consume ginger, garlic, turmeric, cumin seeds (jeera), cinnamon to give flavour to our food. Intake of oily food needs to be limited at all times, not just during summers, since, oily and fatty food leads to delayed stomach emptying, it causes acidity.
Diet plays a vital role in dealing with acidity and reflux problems that all of us face during the summer season. Being extremely careful and food educated while designing the correct diet would definitely prevent many health hazards. A tip for everyone this summer-Stay cool. Stay summer ready!
Lip care is very important in summer. So, keep your lip balm handy to protect them, say experts.
Hema Sharma Datta, Head — Skin Care and Cleansing, R&D, The Himalaya Drug Company, tells why it is important to protect lips in summer.
* Lips lack natural protective oil: Our skin contains sebaceous glands that secrete the natural oil called sebum which keeps our skin moisturised. However, our lips do not contain these glands and therefore, it is essential for us to keep them protected and hydrated through the day. Therefore, using a lip balm that is enriched with natural ingredients in this weather is a must.
* Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun affect the lips: UV rays are extremely harmful for our skin, and our lips are no exception. Since they have fewer melanocytes in them, they are more prone to sun damage caused by UV exposure. It impacts the production of collagen in our lips in the long run thus damaging their health and appearance.
* Sudden changes in temperature can make your lips dry: The sudden and drastic change in temperature is quite detrimental to the health of our lips. For this reason, carrying a lip balm that nourishes and soothes our lips is extremely essential.
Datta, Shikhee Agrawal, Head Training, The Body Shop, Geetika Mittal Gupta, Founder and Medical Director at ISAAC (International Skin & Anti Aging Centre), Sham Kumar, Education Manager at Kiehl’s India, give tips to protect the lips.
* A lip balm enriched with the essence of oranges is the best bet for you to protect your lips from the sun, owing to its natural photo protection and skin conditioning properties.
* We have a habit of licking our lips when they feel dry, instead use a hydrating lip balm, switch to lip balms enriched with bees wax. Use SPF protected lip balms to reduce the harm.
* Exfoliation is as important for the lips as it is for skin, apply a sugar scrub using a toothbrush once a week to get rid of the dead skin layer.
* You can use butter stick as well. Butter stick lip treatment is hydrating. It will make lips feel and look softer, smoother and moisturised.
* Eat plenty of green vegetables and fruits as fruits rich in vitamin help in increasing the water intake too.
* Lips do turn black in the summer heat. So you can mix saffron and curd and apply daily 2-3 times to maintain the natural lip colour.
* Maintain a regular night lip regime. For this you can take half a teaspoon of glycerin, castor oil and lemon juice. Apply this mixture on to your lips and leave overnight.
* Drinking up to 12 glasses of water keeps your body and lips hydrated and helps stimulate the blood circulation of the skin.
Summers are the bearer of the sweet aroma of memories of vacations, lazy afternoons and mangoes. This fruit is loved by all young or old but lately, it has been infamous for its sugar content and is considered as a cause of weight gain so can mangoes really make us fat? Saumya Shatakshi, Senior Nutritionist, Healthians, suggests the pros of eating mangoes and what to keep in mind:
* Mango is not just pure indulgence but a powerhouse to various nutrients like it has vitamin A, iron, copper and potassium.
* Mango is an energy food and provides sugar rush to the body which helps boost the energy levels of the body and keeps you active throughout the day.
* It is a storehouse to Vitamin C that increases the immunity and it is also rich in dietary fibre content
* Eating too much of mangoes can be harmful for health so maintaining the portion control is the key
* A medium-sized mango has nearly 150 calories, eating anything beyond the permissible calorie limits results in weight gain. Hence, it is advised not to overeat.
* Eating mangoes after meals increases the overall calories intake.
* We should replace our mid-morning or evening snacks with mangoes. It helps one enjoy the king of fruits without worrying about piling calories.
* Avoid having mangoes at night. It is preferable to have it during the first half of the day.
Celebrity nutritionist and dietician Nmami Agarwal suggests:
* The number of calories that food carries tells you how much energy it provides. Excess calories are stored as fat, which is why over eating leads to weight gain.
* Mangoes are inversely high on sugar, which generally is an enemy. This is because it causes insulin spikes and falls, which can leave you hungry and cause you to overeat.
Now that summers have swept in, one is constantly on the lookout for a respite from the sweltering heat. Though sugar-loaded soft drinks can offer some relief, they can quench your thirst for just a short time and come with added unhealthy elements. Iced water can be a good option, but not the best if you’re coming in from the sweltering heat or going out soon after. So, why not opt for a solution that will keep your body hydrated for quite a while and give you amazing health benefits on the side? We’re talking about the musk melon that is a popular summer fruit. Relished by many due to its juiciness and sweetness, this easily available and has some very surprising health advantages that can help take care of your renal problems and menstruation cramps.
Experts such as dietician Apoorva Saini of Santoshiarogyam Diet E Clinic, New Delhi, and Dr Aditi, chef nutritionist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Ghaziabad, give us some more reasons to bite into the delicious, sweet and mushy musk melon.
Eases muscle cramps during menstruation
Musk melon contains a good amount of folic acid that has anti-coagulant effects. These help in dissolving blood clots, reducing water retention and easing muscle cramping, giving relief from pain.
Sharpens the eyesight
The rich content of Vitamin A present in musk melons in the form of beta-carotene is good for the eyesight and lows the chances of contracting cataracts. Vitamin A is also beneficial for the epithelial cells of the skin and keeps them healthy.
Builds immunity and stops premature ageing
Musk melons are loaded with Vitamin C and, thus, help boost immunity by stimulating and increasing the white blood cells that help destroy viruses and bacteria. It also stops premature ageing and prevents stomach ulcers.
Reduces constipation
Summers bring with it a variety of digestive problems, as the soaring temperatures can cause heat strokes and stomach upsets. Add to it the fatty foods one is likely to consume and digestive tract problems are commonplace that can lead to constipation. The fibre-content of musk melons helps add bulk to one’s diet and reduces constipation.
Maintains electrolyte balance
Since one is likely to sweat more in summers, it can lead to the loss of minerals from the body. The sodium and potassium content in musk melons help maintain an electrolyte balance.
Cleanses the kidneys and prevents stones
The oxykine present in muskmelon provides protection from renal stones and kidney disorders and the high moisture content in the juicy fruit cleanses the kidneys.
Prevents heart diseases
The adenosine present in musk melon acts as a blood thinner and breaks down clots, thereby preventing a lot of heart ailments.
One can eat around 250-300g of musk melon every day. However, Saini advises diabetic patients to stick with a lesser quantity of 100-150g and recommends avoiding the overripened fruit.
वातावरण बदलांमुळे मोठ्या माणसांपेक्षा लहान मुलांच्या आरोग्यावर विपरित परिणाम होतात. उन्हाळ्यामध्ये सूर्याची प्रखर किरणं, गरम हवा यांमुळे वाढलेलं तापमान, घराबाहेर सुरू असणारी गरम हवा, हे सर्व मुलांना आजारी करू शकतात. अशातच सर्व पालक मुलांना उन्हाळ्यातील उकाड्यापासून वाचवण्यासाठी त्यांना घराबाहेर पडू देत नाहीत. पण मुलं किती वेळ घरात बसून राहतील? ते खेळण्यासाठी घरातून बाहेर पडतातच. अशातच त्यांना उन्हाळ्यातील समस्यांपासून वाचवण्यासाठी काही टिप्स मदत करतील. जाणून घेऊया त्या टिप्सबाबत...
1. अधिकाधिक पाणी पिण्यास सांगा
मुलं जिथे दिवसभर काही खाण्यासाठी सांगितलं तर नाक-तोंड मुरडतात, तेच पाण्यापासूनही दूर रहातात. या सर्व गोष्टी त्यांच्या मूडवर अवलंबून असतात. पण जर उन्हाळ्यामध्ये मुलांना गरम हवा, सन स्ट्रोक यांपासून वाचवायचं असेल तर अधिकाधिक पाणी पिण्यास सांगा. त्यामुळे त्यांचं शरीर आतून हायड्रेट राहातं.
2. ज्यूस, लिंबू पाणी पिण्यास सांगा
जर मुलं पाणी पिण्यासाठी नाटकं करत असतील तर त्यांना इतर पेय पदार्थ पिण्यासाठी द्या. मुंलाना तुम्ही लिंबू पाणी, फ्लेवर्ड सरबत, ज्यूस यांसारखे पदार्थ पिण्यासाठी देऊ शकता. मुलांचं रूटिन सेट करा. त्यानुसार त्यांना पेय पदार्थ पिण्यासाठी द्या.
3. सनस्क्रिन
तुम्ही कितीही थांबवलं तरिही मुलं खेळण्यासाठी घरातून बाहेर पडणारचं. असातच त्यांच्या त्वचेचं रक्षण करण्यासाठी सनस्क्रिन मदत करेल. त्यामुळे मुलं खेळण्यासाठी बाहेर जात असतील तेव्हा त्यांना सनस्क्रिन लावायला विसरू नका.
4. कॉटनचे कपडे परिधान करा
उन्हाळ्यामध्ये जेवढं शक्य असेल तेवढं मुलांना कॉटनचे कपडे वेअर करायला सांगा. कारण कॉटनचे कपडे घाम लगेच शोषून घेतात. तसेच गरम हवा आणि सूर्याची किरणं थेट त्यांच्या त्वचेवर पडणार नाहीत. तसेच शक्यतो हलक्या रंगांचे कपडे मुलांना वेअर करण्यासाठी द्या.
5. डासांपासून रक्षण करा
उन्हाळ्यामध्ये मच्छर वाढतात. ते चावल्यामुळे डेंग्यू, मलेरिया यांसारखे गंभीर आजार होऊ शकतात. त्यामुळे यांपासून मुलांचा बचाव करण्यासाठी डास दूर ठेवणाऱ्या क्रिम्स किंवा लोशन्स लावा. मुलांनी कितीही नाही म्हटलं तरिही त्यांना घरातून बाहेर पाठवण्याआधी क्रिम लावा.
टिप : वरील सर्व गोष्टी आम्ही केवळ माहिती म्हणून वाचकांपर्यंत पोहोचवत आहोत. यातून आम्ही कोणताही दावा करत नाही. त्यामुळे कोणताही उपाय करण्याआधी तज्ज्ञांचा सल्ला घेणं गरजेचं असतं.