Beat the Summer Heat

 How to Prevent Dehydration in Summer

People from different cities of India are battling heat wave. News channels and newspapers have reported that this heat wave is expected to continue this week too. For people who are unaware about what is a heat wave, it is an abnormally high temperature accompanied by high humidity.

A heat wave has various negative effects on human health, like:

• Dehydration
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Heat exhaustion
• Heat stroke
• Dry mouth
• Heat cramps
• Confusion
• Fatigue
• Difficulty in concentration
• Death

Children and elders are at a higher risk of dehydration due to the heat wave. (1)

During such a risky situation, keep yourself hydrated. Not sure if you are hydrated, check these signs and symptoms of dehydration:

• Decreased urine output
• Dark colored urine
• Dizziness
• Increased thirst
• Lightheadedness

If you observed any of these signs, it is clear that the heat wave has affected you and you are dehydrated.

How to Fight Dehydration & Heat Wave

Here Are Some Amazingly Easy Tips to Fight Dehydration and Heat Wave:

Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking plenty of water is a golden rule to fight dehydration. It is the most inexpensive way to protect your body from this summer heat. Water is required by each cell of your body to function and perform effectively. It helps in controlling the body temperature and it regulates your inner cooling system.

If you are bored of drinking plain water, here are some interesting options:

1. Thin buttermilk
2. Coconut water
3. Lemon water with honey
4. Low fat plain milk
5. Infused water
6. Kanji Water

Limit your intake of tea and coffee

Limit your intake of tea and coffee. Caffeine present in it may act as a diuretic and elicit extra water secretion. Besides this, energy drinks too contain high amount of caffeine, stay away from it.

Aerated drinks and sugar-laden beverages are not healthy options to stay hydrated. Stay away from them and replace them with home-made herbal tea.

Carry water with you and drink it at regular intervals whenever you exercise.

Consume fruits and vegetables with high water content

Eat your water by consuming fruits and vegetables with high water content like, cucumber, lettuce, celery, tomatoes, oranges, sweet lime (Mosambi), grapes, watermelon. Eat these juicy fruits and vegetables and take advantages of all the summer fruits, which are naturally high in water.

Avoid alcohol

Avoid excess amount of alcohol. Alcohol causes the body to lose more fluid, which may further lead to headache, dry mouth and excessive thirst

Fresh Cold Soup

Beat the summer heat with a bowl of fresh cold soup, for example:

• Cucumber soup
• Arugula and avocado soup
• Carrot and tomato soup