3 Ways to Beat the Heatwave this Summer

We Pakistani’s aren’t new to the horrors of a summer heatwave, and it looks like this year will be no exception. Temperatures are expected to rise to 40 degrees, which is quite literally burning hot! Naturally we’d advise staying indoors, within the sanctuary of your homes and avoid going out before sunset. But, we all know going out is an inevitability. Now, surprisingly, you can equip your body to deal with the heatwave better if you incorporate a few choice foods in your diet. Here are a three ways to  beat the heat with the power of food!

1. Hydrate

We cannot emphasize this enough – stay hydrated! The minute you step out of a cool environment, the water in your body begins to evaporate in the heat through your skin. It’s important to keep your hydration levels up by drinking as much water as you can and getting the right amount of electrolytes.

The best solution is to carry a bottle of lemonade with you. Make sure you add mint for a cooling effect. Adding a pinch of salt is always a good idea. You can even add a slice of cucumber! Improvise and experiment. You can also check out our recipe for a quick Mint Lemonade. 

Speaking of drinks, we know that avoiding that cup of coffee or tea is difficult, but try not to have any caffeinated drinks in these high temperatures. If you absolutely must have these hot beverages, opt for their iced versions – but we wouldn’t recommend these either, since they too contain caffeine.

2. Lauki ka raita

We’re sure some of you made a face at the mention of lauki, also known as kaddu (gourd), but you can’t deny it has amazing cooling properties. And when paired with yogurt, it’s your magic recipe for beating the heatwave.

There’s a reason why naani ammi and daadi ammi always told you to have a bit of yogurt before heading out into the sun. The combined cooling effect of these two help in reducing your body’s temperature and equips you to function better in the heat. And did we mention that our recipe tastes great? You won’t even know you’re having lauki! Get the recipe here.

3. Vegetables are key

When a heatwave of this magnitude hits town, you better forget about your meat and protein cravings for a while. Protein-rich diets need more energy to digest, hence the higher your body temperature gets when digesting it.

Try having light vegetable-based dishes for dinner. Check out our recipe for Khattay Baingain (Sour Eggplant). It pairs perfectly with white rice and Lauki ka Raita!

Wise food choices may be an essential part of avoiding a heat stroke, but they can’t be of any help to you on their own. You have to take other safety measures as well, such as carrying a small rechargeable fan, avoid wearing stuffy fabrics, stock up on some ORS and share it with others. Also, avoid places with extra lighting. Stay cool and safe everyone, and try to pass this information on to as many people as you can.