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The human body needs to adjust and change its diet with each season. The kind of diet that one consumes during winter or spring is not what one can have during summer. During summer, it is important to eat food that is cooler in tendency so that it doesn't create any kind of inflammation in the body. Also eating too spicy food should be avoided as it can stifle the digestive process in the body and also cause problems like constipation.
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It's important to eat more fibrous and hydrating food during summer to ensure good health. Now that summer has officially started, it is just the right time to make necessary changes in the pantry and include all the summer essential food items. Here are some top food items that one needs to have in the pantry in summer.
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* Chaas
Chaas or buttermilk is a summer staple that helps to make the heatwave outside tolerable. It is made by adding water along with some spices like cumin seeds, mint leaves, and black salt. Just like curd, buttermilk is also extremely beneficial for the gut as it consists of a lot of good bacteria. It helps make digestion easier and cools the stomach. It is a great way to hydrate oneself in a tasty and healthy way.
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* Fruits And Vegetables
One of the best parts about summer is the fact that one gets to enjoy different types of summer fruits and vegetables. Summer is the perfect season to enjoy the most delicious variety of mangoes, plums, berries, litchi, and whatnot. Along with this, the vegetable market is also flooded with a lot of fresh summer produce. One should take full advantage of the summer season and load the pantry with all the fresh fruits and vegetables that are available in the market. These fruits and vegetables can be consumed in various ways, like smoothies, curries, soups, desserts, and many more.
* Sattu
Sattu is a famous ingredient in India that is very prevalent in states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. It is made by mixing powders of chickpea flour, barley, and different types of dry fruits, like almonds, and cashews, along with millet. It is great for the health of the gut and is also a perfect source of staying hydrated during the summer season. Sattu shake also helps aid digestion, and one can utilise the sattu powder in a lot of different ways to make delicious recipes.
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* Cool Spices
During summers, one must make sure that they're very selective about the kind of spices they are using to cook food. One must avoid using extremely spicy and pungent spices like garam masala and red chilli powder. Instead, one must use other cooler spices like fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and other such spices to cook food. Not only are they cooler, but they will also help in keeping the gut healthy and eating digestion. They have a refreshing flavour and do not leave an extremely spicy taste.
* Mishri
Mishri is also called rock sugar, which is an unrefined form of sugar. A lot of times, it is offered as prasad in mandir and has a very enticingly sweet taste. Mishri is a better alternative to refined sugar and also gives a very nice taste to desserts and dairy products. It is for people who do not like the taste of jaggery and want something similar to refined sugar but healthier. Mishri is also loaded with a lot of amino acids, which makes it a great source of different types of vitamins.
* Lemons
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the most juicy and tangy lemons in different ways. There are so many different types of drinks that one can make during summer. Also, lemon juice can be sprinkled on dishes like poha, chaat, fried rice, and chicken dishes to give a refreshing and tangy touch to the food. Lemons are a great source of antioxidants and vitamins, all of which are extremely important during summer. Making lemon a part of one's regular diet is a great idea to ensure that one is summer-ready.
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* Mint Leaves
Mint leaves have been used in India for ages to tackle a lot of summer-related problems. It is also an extremely versatile ingredient that can be added to food, chutneys, and different types of refreshing drinks. One can also chop some mint leaves and add them to salads for a burst of flavour. The best part about mint leaves is the cooling sensation that they bring to the food, which provides so much internal relief to the body during summer.
