Best and Worst Foods to Beat the Heat

Water-Rich Foods

Adequate water intake does not only prevent dehydration; it also flushes out toxins and carries important nutrients to your cells.Staying hydrated is a good idea year-round, but even more crucial when the temperatures start rising. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimates that up to 20 percent of water intake is from hydrating foods, so it’s important to add some high-H2O recipes to your cooking plans, such as cool soups and applesauce.

There’s a side perk to loading your meals with extra fluid: research from Pennsylvania State University suggests that eating foods with high water content can help you feel satiated while reducing your calorie consumption. The benefits were only observed when study participants ate foods that contained water—drinking a glass of water with a meal didn’t have the same effect. However, the Penn State researchers stressed that they didn’t want to discourage people from drinking water, since it’s critical for health. The IOM recommends 14 cups of beverages for men and about 9 cups for women as a minimum.

Foods that Beat Fatigue

Watermelon

There’s a reason this summer treat is a family favorite at picnics and beach days: watermelon contains up to 92 percent water, making it one of the most H20-rich fruits. Moreover, a 2009 study  school found that certain fruits and vegetables may be twice as hydrating as a glass of water—and watermelon topped the list. Watermelon’s unique combination of simple sugars, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium helps replace the electrolytes lost through sweat and exercise.

Cucumbers

Another cooling produce item that made the  list was the cucumber. These crisp green snacks are among the most hydrating vegetables: they are comprised of 96 percent water. And while cucumbers aren't as packed with vitamins as some veggies, they can help you meet your daily requirements for vitamins C and K.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are not only low-calorie and full of water (94 percent, to be precise), they’re also nutrient-dense and have myriad health benefits—they may even decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer. Botanically a fruit, the mighty tomato is loaded with the powerful antioxidant lycopene.

Spicy foods

Counterintuitive but true: spicy foods may warm you up at first, but they actually cool you down after. “Eating spicy foods often results in a ‘flushing’ or surge of blood to the skin, somewhere on the body,” told a scientist. “This regional increase in blood flow may result in increased temperature, and as the flushing dissipates, you may feel cooler.”

Coconut Water

Not only is coconut water a tasty treat, but research shows that it’s comparable to carbohydrate-electrolyte sports drinks as far as hydration goes, and with just a fraction of the calories. This delicious beverage is fat-free, cholesterol-free, and rich in potassium.

Ice Cream and Beer: Not as Cooling as They Appear

Although a freshly-scooped bowl of ice cream or a cold pint of beer might cool you down initially, the long-term effect is the opposite: your body temperature will actually rise as soon as the digestion process begins.

Alcohol also has a counter-intuitive affect—it creates dehydration by “inhibiting the release of the hormone vasopressin,” responsible for the reabsorption of water from the kidneys, according to food scientist. And metabolizing the drink uses water, which also increases dehydration.

If you’re hoping to stay refreshed this summer, stick to water-rich foods and spicy eats, and you’ll be cool as a cucumber—or better yet, a watermelon.

ps- this is only for information, but always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication.

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