Frozen foods are tempting, but they only provide temporary relief. Which ones are preferred?
If you want to effectively fight the intense heat that has just started in our country, pay attention to what you eat and drink. A diet should hydrate you and provide you with the energy you need to regulate your body temperature.
US scientists explain what are the best and worst options for hot summer days.
Worst choices…
The heavy meals this is the worst part of the heat. The digestive process generates heat, and high-fat and high-calorie foods are not digested. Therefore, the harder the body works to break down and metabolize food, the more heat it produces, he says. docent dr. Leigh A. Frame Director of the Holistic Medicine Program at George Washington University.
Heavy meals will also make you feel sluggish and tired as your body tries to regulate heat and digestion together, he says. Dr. Cecilia Sorensen, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Columbia University.
An equally bad choice is consuming large amounts caffeine. Coffee will not cause you problems. But you can’t drink coffee, energy drinks and soft drinks like cola from morning to night to quench your thirst. A large amount of caffeine is a diuretic and increases the risk of dehydration, which is already increased when it is very hot.
According to the European Food Information Council (EUFIC). The indicative caffeine content of various drinks is as follows:
- One cup of tea (220 ml) provides 50 mg of caffeine
- One cup of filter coffee (200 ml) provides 90 mg
- One espresso (60 ml) contains 80 mg
- A can of energy drink (250 ml) contains 80 mg
- A can of Coke (355 ml) contains 40 mg
Notice the crowd as well frozen food (eg ice creams, granitas) and drinks. If you consume them excessively, your body’s internal temperature may drop. In this case, the body will react by increasing heat production.
…and the best ones
The salads fruits, vegetables and legumes are your best friends in the heat. They have a high water content and are rich in nutrients. In addition, most of them are easily digested.
Fruits and vegetables in particular can be eaten raw, so you save on heat from cooking.
Watermelon, cantaloupe, peach, cucumber, tomato, celery, pepper, berries, lettuce, spinach, etc. try products with a high water content such as Create e.g. add a vegetable salad, some cheese and some extra virgin olive oil and you have the perfect meal for the heat. Alternatively, try low-fat yogurt with a little honey, fruit, and a mix of unprocessed breakfast cereals. Or a vegetable salad with beans.
You also need it to withstand the heat plenty of liquid without added sugar and decaffeinated. The best option is water. If you’re not exercising or doing physical exertion in the heat, you don’t need energy drinks. You can also drink a glass of milk or a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice a day. You’ll know you’re well hydrated if your urine is a very pale yellow-yellow.
Finally, don’t forget quality proteinssuch as fish or poultry. To avoid feeding your body with unnecessary fats and calories, opt for grilled or boiled foods rather than fried.