It’s that time of year when we need to focus on eating healthy and staying hydrated. Most of the time, drinking water is sufficient to prevent dehydration. There are, however, alternatives to a plain glass of water that might hydrate you more effectively. To stay cool and keep your fluids in check, try these hydrated summer drinks.
Stay Hydrated with these 7 Amazing Summer Drinks
How to stay hydrated in summer
There is nothing like water for quenching thirst. You may consume it in liquid form and through fruits, vegetables, and other foods in your diet. Watermelons, grapes, oranges, strawberries, pineapples, cucumbers, spinach, bell peppers, and other fruits and vegetables contain much water.
While there is no perfect substitute for water, variety is the spice of life. Juices, shakes, smoothies, and other summer drinks are therefore excellent ways to supplement water.
1. Tender Coconut water
Coconut water is right up there with water in terms of substituting. Its sweet taste helps in the substitution of sodas and colas. In contrast to sugary drinks, the sweet taste does not make you thirstier!
Benefits:
- Coconut water is high in potassium
- It helps in the prevention of dehydration, fatigue, and stress
- It is a pitta-calming drink
- According to one study, it can help with heart disease prevention.
Not to mention that these summer drinks give you the refreshing and soothing feeling of being at the beach!
2. Lime juice or lemonade
The sight and fragrance of a sliced lemon wake you up and energizes you. For a sweet and sour combo, add some salt and honey to the lime juice. This will stimulate your taste buds even more. Even if you’re feeling weak, this citric juice can quickly revive you!
Benefits:
- It helps in the secretion of digestive juices, therefore reducing indigestion.
- The acidic nature of lemon helps in the removal of dirt from your teeth. It also helps to keep your breath fresh, making it ideal for oral hygiene.
- Also, it increases your energy levels without increasing your calorific intake.
- It helps in the replenishment of essential salts lost through sweat.
3. Buttermilk – Curd drink
A tall glass of buttermilk is exactly what the doctor prescribes to stay hydrated in the heat. It is one of the most simple and efficient methods of cooling your body. After all, curd is a staple food all over the world. All you have to do is dilute it and season it, and you’ll have a cool drink to help you fight the heat outside. To flavor it, you could also add spices like cumin seeds powder and curry leaves.
Benefits:
- It helps in the cure of any indigestion issues you may be experiencing by detoxifying your system.
- Also, it is high in calcium, vitamin B12, and potassium.
- It also helps in the relief of headaches and nausea.
4. Kokum juice
Take this healthy drink on a hot summer day, and you’ll feel instantly refreshed – from the inside out. Although kokum warms the body, it becomes cooling when candy sugar or jaggery is added. It not only quenches your thirst but also fills you up without leaving you feeling heavy.
Soak dry kokum fruit for 1-2 hours in water. Keep the water aside after you’ve mashed it and strained it. Cook the remaining kokum fruit with candy sugar, black salt, and roasted cumin powder over low heat until the sugar melts. Then, add the kokum water and continue to boil for 5-6 minutes. Allow a few minutes for the mixture to cool. Put it through a strainer. To relieve the heat, add cold water to this mixture.
Benefits:
- It is an excellent source of Vitamin C and antioxidants, and it is recommended for digestive problems, arthritis pain, and stomach ulcers.
- Ripe fruit helps to balance Vata and Kapha.
5. Watermelon juice
Watermelon is what you’re searching for if you’ve ever wanted to drink water or drink fruit. You can’t tell if you’re eating or drinking watermelon! After all, each bite contains 90% water! On the other hand, watermelon juice has a way of reaching every hot nerve in your body and quickly cooling you – both physically and mentally.
Benefits:
- It helps reduce tiredness and stress.
- It is also useful for reducing headaches on a hot summer day.
- Since watermelon is high in fibre, it helps digestion.
- It is best to consume only watermelon and avoid mixing it with other fruits.
6. Sugarcane juice
It is a universal favorite among individuals who live in tropical areas, where this grass grows.
As India is one of the major producers of sugarcane, this juice is widely available. To enhance the flavour, including various spices, lemon, mint leaves, and ginger to enhance your taste buds.
Benefits:
- It is rich in minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
- A cold glass of sugarcane juice may quickly energize you.
- It helps in the relief of stomach upset and constipation.
- It is cooling in nature.
Note: Sugarcane juice is difficult to make at home due to the gear necessary to squeeze the juice from the stem. It is best to have this juice from a hygienic source to avoid turning your energetic drink into a powerful glass of jaundice! Also, drink it fresh and in moderation.
7. Cucumber juice
Summer is the perfect season for being as cool as a cucumber. Maybe you’ve just seen someone apply cool cucumber slices on their eyes to decrease puffiness. Or have you ever eaten cucumbers in salads? Cucumber juice is another popular drink. Is this your first attempt? If it is, you are in for a surprise!
Peel, chop and mash the cucumber before straining the liquid for a refreshing drink to cool your insides. To give the cucumber juice a tangy flavor, squeeze in some lime juice.
Benefits:
- It is high in Vitamins K and C and other macro minerals like iron, phosphorus, and magnesium.
- It is 95% water. Thus it reduces dehydration.
- It helps in the cleansing of your system by flushing toxins from the body.
- Also, it works as a natural laxative to relieve constipation.
- It is a pitta-calming drink.
- For a similar effect, try some cold water with cucumber slices in it.
Quick health tips for the summer season
- When you leave the house, bring a water bottle with you.
- When exposed to extreme heat, drink water every half hour or so.
- Dress in loose, cotton clothing that helps you to breathe freely.
- Use an umbrella or sunshade to protect yourself from the sun’s direct rays.
- Avoid fried and sugary foods, as they will make you thirstier.
- Exercise early in the mornings or late in the evenings to avoid being exposed to the sun at its hottest.
The Bottom Line
Water makes up around 60% of the human body on average. As a result, water is important in our diet. If you only drink water when your body asks for it, you are already dehydrated. And, let’s face it, dehydration is not a pleasant thing. So, before you turn into a human raisin, make sure you follow this summer health advice to stay hydrated.
