With the heat index on the rise, we can keep our bodies cool, nourished and safe with Dr. Jimmy Galvez Tan’s list of what to eat in the scorching heat.

Dr. Galvez Tan is a clinical practitioner of natural healing and integrative medicine.

Kamias is believed to bring benefits to one’s health. It may aid in digestion, help manage hypertension and is said to have anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. It also boosts immunity. Enjoy kamias fresh, made into a cold shake sweetened with honey, coco sugar or stevia. You may even steep the fruit and leaves to make a cooling tea.

Balimbing is a good source of antioxidants. It is a rich source of vitamins A and C. Partake of it fresh or as a fiber-rich juice that helps cool the body.

Cucumber, with its high water content, is nature’s coolant. It is one of the most cooling foods for summer. Chill and cut them into sticks, add them to your salads or juice them.

Watermelon is the summer fruit that can help treat heat exhaustion, even heat stroke. Like cucumbers, it is a natural body coolant that quenches thirst. It has lycopene and vitamin A and C. It keeps cancer away. Serve fresh, as juice or as add-on to salads.

Melons are low in calories and rich in nutrients. The summer fruit cools the body and is best enjoyed cold, blended or as part of a salad.

Cantaloupe is great for hydration. It is high in water content and in electrolytes.

High in water content

Singkamas juice is said to lower fever and blood sugar. Juice is made by blending the fruit and straining it. You may also grate and squeeze out the juice. Apply grated singkamas to affected area to relieve sunburn. Singkamas rehydrates, cools and works wonders for diabetes. You may also slice or cut it into sticks to enjoy.

Carrots are nutrient-rich, low in calories, high in water content. Enjoy carrots cold and juiced to quench the summer heat. Combine it with cucumber or other cooling fruits or vegetables. You may simply munch on carrot sticks.

Guavas are coolants, both the leaves and the fruit. To cool the body and to stop it from sweating profusely, boil water and steep guava leaves. You may also incorporate sliced unripe fruit. Cool and splash the guava water after taking a shower.

Macopa cools the body on a hot day. It is said to aid in fever reduction and digestion, and heal mouth sores and hyperacidity.

Make macopa juice by blending then straining it. Pick red, ripe, shiny-skinned, sweet macopa to make a light and healthy salad. Slice the fruit and put it in a bowl with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, cucumbers. Dress the salad with vinaigrette made with vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Make macopa water by soaking roughly chopped fruit in water and leaving for 15 minutes before drinking.

Duhat is a summer fruit that has a cooling effect, boosts immunity, lowers blood sugar and is a great source of purple antioxidants. Shake duhat in salt or sugar, or both, then leave to chill before eating.

To keep the body cool and refreshed, prepare a duhat rinse by steeping leaves in hot water, cooling it, then rinsing after a shower.

Avocados take away excess heat and toxins from the body due to the monosaturated fatty acids. Enjoy avocado as is or in sweet and savory preparations. Steeping leaves in hot water makes a good cooling tea that cleanses the blood, removing toxins from the blood.

You may also use the steeped water to rinse, to bring down body temperature.

Celery has many benefits. During summer, particularly when juiced, celery cools the body by lowering its temperature. Celery is electrolyte-rich, thus good for dehydration. It is beneficial in maintaining normal blood pressure and sugar levels.

Star apples benefit those whose bodies suffer from excessive body heat. It lowers bloods sugar, aids in digestion and is rich in fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C. It is one of the few fruits with iron. Enjoy the fruit.

Hydrating

Santol is a coolant, and good for digestion. Soak the fruit with seeds in cold water with a little calamansi. Drink after 15 minutes. If sour, sweeten with natural sweetener. The water refreshes the body, lowers temperature and blood sugar and is a digestive.

Lanzones is hydrating and high in water content. It’s an excellent kidney cleanser.

Rambutan cools the body. Enjoy the fruit chilled, juice it or add to salads.

Mangosteens are the coolest fruit, according to Chinese traditional medicine. To make tea, slice the fruit open and enjoy the fruit. Scoop out the soft inner core and discard the skin. Rinse the inner core with water. Pour water on rinsed inner core and let sit for 15 minutes. Sweeten with natural sweetener of choice. This concoction not only cools but is a powerful antioxidant. It protects the body, strengthens immunity and aids in digestion.

Bananas are said to aid in the absorption of water, and can help add moisture and keep the body cool.

Apples are high in water content and are easy to digest. It is an affordable, most refreshing snack in the sweltering heat, as it cools down internal body heat.

Dark green leafy vegetables are composed mostly of water and are easy to digest.

Cauliflower is a known cooling food that is rich in nutrients, low in calories and high in water content.

Coconut water does not only hydrate, but is also an excellent blood cleanser.

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