Friday, April 10, 2009

Try some Summer Foods-This Season

Eat to Hydrate Yourself this Summer

You’ve probably heard those narrators on the National Geographic specials say things like "Water gives life" or "Without water there could be no life." They’re overly dramatic,but they are right.

Women need about 2.5 liters or 9 cups of fluid daily while men require about 12 cups--just to replace what's naturally lost to perspiration, exhalation, respiration and excretion.Remember we begin to get dehydrated and our performance drops off with just as much as a 2% water loss.But if you have a difficult time in meeting your fluid needs and gulping down these liters of water then EAT to hydrate yourself.

CUCUMBER – Cucumber‘s 96% of weight is water. It is one of the best ways to keep oneself hydrated. Cucumber juice is nourishing for the skin. Its liquid has the reputation of being rejuvenator and makes us feel and look young.

WATERMELONS –Watermelon can be a great thirst quencher in summer. Water content of this fruit is approx 92%. Therefore it can be good filler for the people looking out for weight loss. Blend chunks of watermelon with few ice cubes and slash some lime juice in it. Have with fresh mint leaves. It is also considered as a rich source in Vitamin B6.This Vitamin B6 is an important attribute to have in a healthy diet because it promotes chemicals in the brain that help people to cope with anxiety and panic.

TOMATOES - 91% of tomatoes is water.It is the most availed source of water which can easily be afforded by rich and poor.

CITRUS FRUITS LIKE ORANGES, SWEETLIME AND GRAPEFRUIT - The water content of these fruits is not less than 88%. They are an excellent source of vitamin C-just one orange supply 116.2% of the daily value for vitamin C. these colorful fruits help to increase the resistance power of the body. Always eat fresh fruit instead of drinking citrus fruit juices as juices are often sweetened with refined sugars while fresh fruits have natural sugars and fibre which is very essential for our body.

CELERY - Celery is not only rich in fluid but also electrolytes like potassium and sodium, the minerals most important for regulating fluid balance, stimulates urine production, thus helping to rid the body of excess fluid.

CURDS – this food product also qualifies as a rich source of water as its moisture content is not less than 88g in 100 grams of curds. One should try including curds in every meal. It can be in any form like buttermilk, salad dip, khadi, raita etc. Those who are lactose-intolerant can consume yogurt, as bacteria present in it breaks down the lactose before it enters your body.

There are various ways to include the above foods in our diet. They can be used in salads, soups and stews to help satisfy our body's thirst; for dessert, try sorbets, custards or fresh fruit. But make sure to include these foods in your daily diet to meet your fluid needs.