Beat the Heat: Refreshing Summer Drinks for Happy Hot Days

Beat the summer heat with refreshing, hydrating drinks! Ditch sugary sodas and choose natural coolers like coconut water, fruit-infused water, electrolyte drinks or homemade natural beverages. Stay cool, sip smart!

Highlights:

Proper hydration is essential for beating the summer heat
Opt for naturally hydrating ingredients like coconut water, leafy greens, lemons, dairy, and fresh fruits in your summer drinks
Avoid dehydrating ingredients like caffeine, sugar, and alcohol
Homemade electrolyte drinks, fruit-infused water, and refreshing lemon-ginger blends offer tasty and healthy ways to stay cool and hydrated

Summer is here! The scorching heat is ready to make you sweat, dehydrate you, and drain your energy levels.

To beat the summer heat, hydration is your ultimate weapon! With the sun blazing and temperatures soaring, your body craves refreshing fluids to stay cool, energized, and healthy. So, sip on water, enjoy hydrating fruits, and keep dehydration at bay.

Super Foods to Keep you Hydrated this Summer
Summers days are long, hot and sweaty, and can leave you feeling de-hydrated and tired. Read on to find more about the foods that will keep you hydrated and maintain your energy levels on these long and hot days.

‘Did You Know?
Drinking roadside juices or eating unwashed fruits in summer can raise the risk of stomach infections. Stay cool with safe and hygienic choices. #summerdrinks #summerrecipes #beattheheat’

Sipping Roadside Juices: Refreshing but Risky!

During the summer, the intense heat can make people crave refreshing drinks like roadside lemonade or juicy seasonal fruits. However, health experts caution that consuming these from street vendors can be risky. The high temperatures create an ideal environment for bacteria and viruses to grow on food and in drinks, especially if they are not stored or prepared hygienically.

Contaminated water, unwashed fruits, or exposure to dust and pollution can lead to infections that affect the stomach and intestines. One common illness caused by such infections is acute gastroenteritis, which leads to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps ().

To stay safe from food-borne diseases, it's best to drink properly filtered or boiled water, eat freshly washed fruits from reliable sources, and enjoy refreshing summer drinks prepared hygienically at home.

Healthy Summer Drinks to Quench Your Thirst
What are the right summer drinks that will actually quench your thirst? Try lassi, coconut water and sugarcane juice, suggest experts

Sip with a Twist: Make Water Tastier and More Flavorful

Water can be made more hydrating and tastier by adding electrolytes, along with water-rich fruits and vegetables.

Top 8 Trending Indian Summer Drinks
Summer, the hottest season in India is here. As the temperature heats up, make sure to enjoy some cool summer drinks to quench your thirst and beat the heat. So, hurry up, gulp some refreshing Indian summer drinks and keep yourself hydrated this ...

Hydration Heroes: Why Your Body Needs Electrolytes

Electrolytes are essential minerals that help your heart, muscles, and nerves function properly. They move nutrients into cells, remove waste, and maintain your body's water balance. You can get them from both food and drinks.

Your body needs the following electrolytes:

Calcium
Sodium
Potassium
Chloride
Magnesium
Phosphate

Boost your hydration this summer with natural electrolyte drinks made from fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients! These drinks help replenish lost minerals, keep you energized, and prevent dehydration in the heat.

Summer Drinks: Quick Cool Recipes to Beat the Heat
Innovative summer coolers with ingredients like watermelon, lemon and basil can help beat the heat. Watermelon Basil Cooler, Summer Lime Caprese are some of the summer cool drinks you must try this season.

Flavor Up Your Water: Healthy Additions for Ultimate Hydration

Here are some great ingredients to include in your homemade electrolyte drinks:

Coconut Water – A natural source of electrolytes like potassium and sodium, perfect for hydration
Leafy Greens (Spinach, Kale) – Packed with magnesium and potassium, these greens help maintain fluid balance and muscle function
Dairy (Milk, Buttermilk, Yogurt) – Rich in calcium and electrolytes, they aid in hydration and digestion. Buttermilk is especially refreshing in summer!
Fruits (Strawberries, Watermelon, Oranges, Bananas and Avocado) – Loaded with water and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium, these fruits naturally boost hydration and energy

Blend these ingredients into smoothies, mix them into refreshing drinks, or enjoy them as they are to stay cool and hydrated all summer long!

Avoid These Ingredients in Your Hydration Drinks

Some ingredients can actually dehydrate you instead of keeping you refreshed. To stay properly hydrated, try to avoid adding these to your drinks:

Caffeine – While moderate caffeine intake doesn’t always cause dehydration, it can drain energy and water from your body rather than replenishing it. If your goal is hydration, it’s best to skip caffeine
Sugar – Sugary drinks may seem refreshing, but they can trick your body into feeling thirsty while increasing urine output. This causes more water loss, which can lead to dehydration. Stick to natural sugars found in fruits instead
Alcohol – Alcohol dehydrates your body by making you urinate more frequently. This is why drinking alcohol can leave you feeling sluggish and give you a headache. To stay hydrated in summer, it's best to avoid alcohol in your drinks

Fun and Refreshing Hydrating Drink Recipes to Try at Home

Want something more exciting than plain water to quench your thirst? There are plenty of healthy and hydrating drink options! Here are some fun and refreshing ideas to keep you cool this summer ():

Simple Lemon Water (Lemonade)
A classic summer favorite! Squeeze the juice of two lemons into a pitcher of water, add a pinch of salt, and stir. This easy and refreshing drink helps replenish lost minerals and keeps you hydrated throughout the day.
Ginger Lemon Juice
This drink combines spice and citrus for a refreshing twist. Grate a 4-inch piece of peeled ginger, press it through a fine-mesh sieve to extract 1 teaspoon of ginger juice, and mix it with ¼ cup lemon juice, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 2 teaspoons raw honey, ⅛ teaspoon sea salt, and 1½ cups of water or coconut water. A perfect balance of hydration and flavor.
Cucumber Juice
Let's beat the summer heat and stay as cool as a cucumber! Peel, cut, and mash the cucumber, then strain it for a refreshing drink to cool you down. Add a squeeze of lime for a tangy twist.
DIY Electrolyte Drink
Stay energized with this homemade electrolyte boost! Mix 2 cups of cold water with 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of coarse sea salt, and ice. Add fresh lemon and lime juice to taste, stir well, and enjoy a naturally replenishing drink.
Strawberry Basil Infusion
For a light and flavorful drink, add 1 pint of sliced strawberries, 10 fresh basil leaves (torn), and 1 sliced lemon to 2 quarts of water. Let it chill in the refrigerator for a few hours, then enjoy a naturally sweet and refreshing beverage.
Fresh Fruit-Infused Water
Like the strawberry basil drink, you can customize your own fruit-infused water with your favorite fruits. Simply add fresh fruit slices to water and let them infuse. This boosts flavor and encourages hydration while providing essential vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes.

Stay cool and experiment with these delicious drinks for a fun and tasty way to stay hydrated!

References:

Safe Food Preparation Helps Prevent Gastroenteritis - (https://www.sintmaartengov.org/news/pages/Safe-Food-Preparation-Helps-Prevent-Gastroenteritis.aspx)
Top 12 Energizing & Refreshing Summer Drinks to Hydrate Your Body - (https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/ayurveda/tips/12-hydration-drinks)

Source-Medindia