The summer months include backyard BBQS, cookouts with family and friends, picnics in the park, road trips and warmer weather. Although summertime sunshine can be enjoyable, heat indexes, higher temperatures and increasing humidity levels can leave us searching for ways to beat the heat. One of the best ways to stay cool is by staying well hydrated, but you can also beat the heat through food. Here are three types of foods that can help you stay cool and hydrated throughout the entire summer season.

#1 Alkaline Foods
According to Ayurveda practices, there are certain foods that should be enjoyed during each season. In Ayurvedic tradition, it’s not a foods’ temperature that makes it cool, but rather its innate qualities. Each food is classified according to its energy and effects on the body. For instance, during the fall we should focus on eating grounding foods to center our energy as the seasons change from the busy summer months to the slower pace of fall, but in summertime, we should shift our focus to more alkaline foods.

Alkaline foods contain a yin energy and can potentially create a more cooling effect on the body.  Some alkaline foods include fresh blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries. Enjoy them on their own or add a handful to your morning bowl of chia seed pudding or overnight oats. Looking for some more recipes? Try these Mini Lemon Poppyseed Bundt Cakes topped with fresh raspberries or make these super simple Strawberry Shortcake Bites.



#2 Beverages and Foods Naturally High in Electrolytes
During the dog days of summer, our body naturally stays cool by sweating, but when we sweat, we lose electrolytes, so it’s important to replenish with beverages and foods that are naturally high in electrolytes. Some good options include bananas, coconut water, kale, lime and spinach. There are plenty of delicious ways to incorporate these foods into delicious summertime recipes. Add a splash of coconut water to your smoothies, create a homemade batch of Sprouted Sunflower Seed and Kale Pesto, enjoy a lunchtime spinach salad, make a Banana Peanut Butter Parfait or squeeze fresh lime juice over Breaded Fish Tacos with Habanero Ranch Dressing.



#3 Water-Based Foods
During the hot summer months, it may seem logical to cool down with cold foods like ice cream sandwiches or popsicles, but according to Ayurveda tradition, it’s not a foods’ temperature that makes it cooling, but rather its natural qualities and their effect on the body. Instead of focusing on foods that are cold in temperature, shift your palette to water-based foods that can help cool and hydrate. Some water-based foods include:

-Avocado
-Berries
-Celery
-Coconut
-Cucumber
-Dark leafy greens
-Melons
-Romaine lettuce
-Watermelon
-Zucchini

Get creative with water-based foods and make a delicious batch of Roasted Jalapeno Avocado Salsa or bake up some Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting and Berries.



Don’t let the summer heat and humidity keep you indoors. Instead, cool down with these three types of foods and stay cool all summer long.

Tag us @SimpleMills so we can see how you stay cool during the hot summer months with your favorite Simple Mills recipes.