Summers
are here, a season which we both love and hate. We love it because it is the
season of delicious fruits and juices, which range from mangoes, grapes to
watermelons and sweet limes. It a season to explore the hill stations, to
have pool parties and so on. But it also comes with its disadvantages: the
soaring temperature, hot winds, the rising humidity, sweat, body odour, heat
strokes and dehydration, which makes us hate this season as well. It is always
advisable to stay indoors most of the time during summers. But, this is not a
practical solution. Thus, the best way to protect ourselves from the summer
heat and make the most of the season is to be well-prepared for it.
Tips to
remain healthy during summers
- Drink lots of water: Drink lots of water and
variety of fruit juices. Avoid dehydration by drinking fluids at regular
intervals. Barley water, aam panna, limewater, coconut water are good for
health during this time.
- Small frequent meals: Doctors always
advised small frequent meals during the day and not to skip breakfast for
overall good health of a person. This becomes all the more important
during summers as it prevents low blood pressure and dizziness during very
hot days.
- Light diet and avoid heavy
food:
Always opt for a light diet. Avoid heavy, oily and spicy foods as much as
you can because these foods take a longer time to digest. Do not drink
alcoholic beverages and avoid tea or coffee because they speed up fluid
loss.
- Exercise: Daily exercise is always
good for health. But in summers, care must be taken not exercise
vigorously as it would lead to exertion. Preferably, go for walks or
jogging early in the morning or in the evening after the sun sets so as to
avoid the scorching heat rays. Do yoga in the comforts of your home.
Consume
healthy fruits and vegetables
- Nourish your body with
seasonal fruits and vegetables that have much number of nutrients. Fruits
like watermelon and grapes nourish and cool our body and give moisture to
our skin. They also help to counter the influence of the summer heat.
- Mango, another popular fruit
available during this season, is also very good for health. It clears the
skin, eyes, reduces cholesterol, and alkalizes the whole body. But, it
should be consumed in limited quantity as too much consumption can raise
the body heat and might cause stomach problems.
- Among vegetables, bottle
gourd, cucumber, eggplant ( brinjal ), mushrooms, zucchini, cabbage turnip
are good.
Tips to
protect your body and skin from the summer heat
Cotton clothes: Wear light, loose-fitting
cotton or summer friendly clothes which soak your sweat easily and at the
same time keep your body cool.
Avoid black: Avoid wearing black and other
dark coloured clothes as black absorbs more heat. Go for light, white and
pastel shades that do not absorb that much heat.
Sunscreen lotion: Apply a sunscreen lotion
when you step out of the house. In fact, if you are outside for a long
time then reapplying sunscreen is important.
Sunglasses and hats: Don’t forget to put on your
sunglasses when you go out. Even wide-brimmed hats are effective to
protect oneself from the sun.
Scarfs and stoles: Some prefer to cover their
heads with scarfs, stoles or dupattas. This is also a good option but make
sure that the scarf or stole is of a light material like cotton. This will
prevent the heat from directly reaching your head. It will also protect
you from the hot loo.
Tissues: Keep tissues and wet wipes
with you all the time so as to wipe out the sweat at regular intervals.
Apply pricklying heat
powder:
Prickly heat powder is also one of good protection from the sun heat,
especially for children. Prickly heat powder should be applied on the
back, front and under armpits of kids. This keeps the body cool and
protects it from rashes.
Cool showers: Body odour and sweating are
common problems in summers. So it is always advisable to take frequent
cool showers to remain fresh and cool.
