Summer Fruits

Summer Fruits

Summers may bring sunny days and respite from the biting cold, but the weather can make things extremely uncomfortable and also lead to sweating, various seasonal issues and dehydration. While drinking water is extremely essential, some seasonal foods can also come to your rescue.

As the mercury level rises, the risk of many diseases increases too. The scorching heat usually brings with it a lot of diseases such as typhoid fever, diarrhoea, jaundice, heat stroke, dehydration, and skin problems.

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• Plum – The Mouth Watering Fruit

Despite the unbearable heat and humidity that characterize summer, some people eagerly wait for the season to arrive for various reasons. One is that summer brings with it a variety of delicious seasonal fruits, including the most awaited mangoes.

Interestingly, many of these summer fruits are effective in fighting sun damage and provide an instant boost of energy. May be this is mother nature’s way of protecting us from the heat.

During the summer season, our body loses more water as we sweat a lot. Therefore, it is important to keep your body hydrated during the summer. Adding summer fruits in your diet is one of the easiest ways to do that.

Here is a list of 5 best fruits that can keep your body cool and hydrated:

Watermelon:

Made up of 92% water, a watermelon is highly nutritious. Packed with antioxidants, Vitamins A, B6 & C, potassium and amino acids, it is an excellent hydrating fruit. The potassium in watermelons does not allow water levels in your body to dwindle. It also keeps your muscles flexible and boosts heart health. Most importantly, its high water content prevents dehydration. The cheery red color comes from lycopene, an antioxidant. Studies show it may help curb your risk of cancer and diabetes as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Watermelon has more of this nutrient than any other fruit or veggie – even tomatoes. To load up on lycopene, choose a melon with bright red flesh rather than yellow or orange. And the riper, the better. Also, seedless melon tends to have more lycopene than those with seeds. Watermelon is rich in an amino acid called citrulline that may help move blood through your body and can lower your blood pressure. Your heart also enjoys the perks of all the lycopene watermelon contains. Studies show that it may lower your risk of heart attacks. Of course, your whole lifestyle affects your heart health. So make sure you also work out, don’t smoke, limit saturated fat, and keep up with your doctor’s advice.

Cucumber:

Another must-have is the cucumber. Simply sprinkle some lemon juice and salt on it anytime of the day. It helps keep you hydrated along with a glow from within. Also, it keeps you feeling fuller for longer while eliminating toxins from the body. Cucumbers are low in calories and contain a good amount of water and soluble fiber, making them ideal for promoting hydration and aiding in weight loss.

To maximize their nutrient content, cucumbers should be eaten unpeeled. Peeling them reduces the amount of fiber, as well as certain vitamins and minerals. It promotes hydration – While you meet the majority of your fluid needs by drinking water or other liquids, some people may get as much as 40% of their total water intake from food. Because cucumbers are composed of about 96% water, they are especially effective at promoting hydration and can help you meet your daily fluid needs

 Guava:

Guavas don’t allow your blood sugar levels to spike and drop. If you are diabetic (or even if your sugar levels are fine), you can eat this fruit without worrying about the dangerous consequences of excess sugar. Summer brings with it a host of digestion problems causing your digestive system to become sluggish. Guavas are high on fibres that are not only very filling (so you don’t end up consuming heavy foods that choke your digestive system) but also keep your digestive tract clean.

Guavas are tropical trees originating in Central America. Their fruits are oval in shape with light green or yellow skin and contain edible seeds. What’s more, guava leaves are used as an herbal tea and the leaf extract as a supplement. Guava fruit or leaf extract may have a positive effect on heart health by lowering blood pressure, decreasing bad cholesterol, and increasing good cholesterol. A study on women who experienced painful symptoms found that taking 6 mg of guava leaf extract daily resulted in reduced pain intensity. It appeared to be even more powerful than some painkillers.

 Mango:

For a lot of people, summers are synonymous with mangoes – the king of fruits. Not only are they extremely appetizing, but they also pack in a ton of goodness. They’re a good source of calories so, when you find your energy being zapped by the summer heat, just bite into a few mango slices for a quick boost. Mangoes contain plenty of fibres, an entire range of vitamins as well as potassium.

The yellow colour in mangoes is imparted by a pigment that protects your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun – which is at its full force in the summer season. A pilot study in 2018 demonstrated that people with chronic constipation who ate mango over a 4-week period, enjoyed significant improvement in their symptoms, in part due to the fibre content but potentially from other compounds in the fruit, too. Interestingly, the leaves of the mango tree also appear to offer potential antidiarrheal activity thanks to plant chemicals in the leaves.

 Muskmelon:

The final fruit on our list is muskmelon. This aromatic fruit is an old summer favourite. It is loaded with Vitamin A which bolsters immunity and reduces inflammation and Vitamin C which helps with cell repair and brings a glow to your skin even when the sun is at its most unforgiving. The beta-carotene in muskmelon boosts the health of your eyes and anti-oxidants flush out free radicals from your body.

This fruit will also keep your heart beating strong and stabilize blood pressure. Most importantly, it aids with digestion and regularizes bowel movement. Almost 90 percent of muskmelon is water. To prevent dehydration you need to drink enough water and consume more fruits and vegetables loaded with water. You can consume a variety of fruits including watermelon, mangoes, kiwi, berries and muskmelon. Enjoy a fresh bowl of fruits every day. Muskmelon is also good for your skin. High amount of antioxidants can help in purification of skin. It is also loaded with skin-friendly collagen. It is also used to prepare face packs.