With temperatures soaring across the country, our energy levels get severely affected. Our body feels dehydrated and very often our appetite also decreases. We tend to constantly look for ways to cool our body down. Many fruits and vegetables available during the summer have health benefits that you may not even know!

Here are 7 foods that you can incorporate in your diet to keep your body cool:

1. Watermelon: The best fruit to have during summer. Watermelon has antioxidants that help in cooling you down. So buy a watermelon, cool it at home, cut and enjoy. You can even make some nice and cool salads using watermelon.
2. Corn: Sweet corn has two antioxidants—Lutein and Zeaxanthin. They help to form a pigment that filters out some of the sun’s damaging rays. Eat it boiled, or toss it up as a salad, corn is a safe bet and easily available.
3. Cucumber: Cucumber is rich in fiber that helps keep constipation away. It also helps you keep cool during the hot days. You can just eat it as is. You can even try some cucumber juice, or mix it in curd and consume as a raita.
4. Mint: An easily available and inexpensive herb, mint can be consumed with curd or as a chutney. It is refreshing and can also be added to your drinks such lemonades to give it a minty zing.
5. Lime water: The refreshing lime water or nimboo pani helps maintain hydration levels in your body. Have it sweet, salted or add a dash of black salt and cumin powder to it.
6. Green veggies: Green vegetables should be an integral part of your diet throughout the year. However, in summer, it should be consumed as often as you can as they have a high water content. Do not overcook them as they will lose their water content.
7. Coconut Water: Coconut water is full of simple sugars, electrolytes and essential minerals which help keep the body well hydrated. A healthier alternative to sugary drinks.

Recipe:

Mango Lemonade
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
Mango, peeled and roughly chopped: 1
Lime: 3
Mint sugar syrup: 1/2 cup
Club soda: 1/2 cup
Ice cubes: Lots of it
Sprigs of fresh mint: For garnish
Mango wedges: For garnish

For mint sugar syrup:
Water: 1 cup
Sugar: 3/4 cup
Fresh mint leaves: 1/2 cup

Method:

1. First you have to make the simple syrup. In a saucepan combine water, sugar and the mint leaves and stir over low heat till the sugar dissolves completely. (Ideally in a simple syrup the ratio of sugar: water should be 1:1). Let it cool. You can drain the mint leaves if you so wish.
2. Now in a blender puree the mango and in another bowl juice the limes. Set aside.
3. Take your serving glasses and fill them with ice cubes one third way up. Now divide the lime juice, mango puree, mint sugar syrup equally in the two glasses. Top them up with club soda. Stir to blend the layers.
4. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs and mango wedges and serve.

References:
http://www.eatingwell.com/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com 

http://prithachak.blogspot.in/2015/06/mango-lemonade.html