Ditch the cone!
The dog days of summer are here, and you’re as hot as you-know-what. Treating yourself to soft-serve or a Zooper Dooper would definitely hit the spot—but both are loaded with sugar. So what should you eat instead?
We suggest helping yourself to one of these nine clean picks. They’ve got natural cooling properties to help you chillax. And because they’re low in sugar, you can beat the heat without loading up on empty carbs and kilojoules.
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Celery
This crunchy veggie is 95% water, so it’ll help you stay hydrated and cool when the weather’s scorching. Even better? It can combat that bloated, sausagey feeling that tends to strike on hot, humid days. “Celery is a natural digestive aid with diuretic properties, so it can help ease fluid retention,” explains dietitian Megan Faletra.
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Frozen berries
Next time you’re craving something from the ice cream truck, help yourself to some frozen raspberries or blackberries instead. Just like your favourite summertime treat, frozen berries will temporarily cause your core temperature to drop, so you’ll instantly feel cooler. But unlike a sprinkle-topped cone, they’re super-low in sugar, so you can feel good about eating a hefty serving. A cup of raspberries has just 5 grams of sugar, while a cup of blackberries has 7 grams.
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Fennel
Both fennel and fennel seeds contain digestion-boosting compounds that help reduce stomach acidity. As a result, you may feel soothed or cooled after eating them, says dietitian Ali Miller. Whole fennel’s high water and fibre content can also help combat bloat, brought on by hot weather and dehydration.
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Pineapple
Have you ever noticed that you feel extra hot after eating something protein-rich like barbecue chicken or a burger? Many people assume this happens because these dishes are served hot, but the protein is actually to blame. The body expends lots of heat-producing energy-digesting proteins, which makes you feel warmer. Thankfully you don't have to give up these tasty summer eats to stay cool. Just pair them with pineapple. The tropical fruit is rich in bromelain, an enzyme that helps break down protein, making it easier to digest and leaving you feeling less hot and sticky, Miller explains.
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Avocado
The combination of soluble fibre and water makes avocado easy for your system to process, so your body expends less energy (read: heat) on digestion, Faletra explains. Plus, it’s loaded with potassium, so it’ll help replenish electrolytes lost through sweat, so you stay adequately hydrated.
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Seaweed
Sea vegetables like nori, kelp, or wakame are mucilaginous—which is just a fancy way of saying that they boast slippery, gel-like properties. “This has an anti-inflammatory influence, which cools and soothes the body,” Miller says. Try using nori sheets in place of tortillas to make wraps, or add cooked kelp or wakame to a salad.
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Coconut water
That sweetened iced tea or lemonade might seem refreshing, but it’s not necessarily the best way to hydrate since all that sugar can leave you bloated and uncomfortable. What makes coconut water a better choice? Aside from the fact that it’s low in sugar, it’s another source of electrolytes like potassium, which can help you rehydrate and cool down, Miller says.
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Yoghurt
Eating cold foods like yoghurt can temporarily lower your internal temperature, so you feel cooler, Faletra says. And because it’s got a lot of water, yoghurt is another one of those foods that’ll help keep you hydrated. Just be sure to stick to plain yoghurt over sweetened, which is loaded with added sugar. Low-fat or full-fat are both fine, depending on your preferences and kilojoule needs.
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Hot peppers
There’s a reason why spicy foods are so popular in countries with a hot climate. Eating things like jalapeños or Serrano peppers raises your internal temperature, which causes you to sweat, Faletra explains. Once those water droplets start to form on your skin, you’ll immediately start to feel more comfortable. Cool, right?
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