How often are you mindful of what you eat? Most of us prepare and eat our meals without taking a second to think about how the food we consume impacts our bodies. Even the best quality foods can hurt your body rather than nourish it if not eaten in the right manner or amount. In short, eating healthy should not be a way of fueling your body, but the only way.
Even when we talk about eating healthy, many people don’t know what is classified as healthy and not. This may vary from person to person. For instance, vegetables like kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts are some of the generally healthy ‘green foods’ that may interfere with your thyroid production. If you have hypothyroidism, your doctor may ask you to limit their consumption.
So how do you decide what food is good for your body? Although people may have to include or exclude certain foods owing to their health conditions or allergies, most fresh foods, especially vegetables and fruits, are good for your body.
When it comes to vegetables and fruits, always say yes to seasonal produce. What is so special about eating foods that are in the season? They are fresh, taste best with just the right flavours, and are extremely high on minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients that your body needs during that season. With summer around the corner in UAE, it’s time for you to include seasonal foods on your plate, just like we do it here in our healthy cafe.
Summer foods to keep you cool
Most summer foods can cool down your body as they are high in water content. Local markets will be brimming to their fullest with fresh fruits and vegetables this season, ready for you to pick them up. Here are some of them-
Melons
Melons are undoubtedly one of the coolest, juiciest, and healthiest foods summer can offer us. We include melons in salads, smoothies, and desserts at our healthy cafe to get all its goodness into our bodies. Melons are known to help with weight loss, improve gut health, reduce high blood pressure and provide resistance against the common cold and flu.
One of the heroes from the melon family is the watermelon. This fruit is 90% water and is a natural hydration expert you need when the temperature rises. Watermelon helps protect the skin from oxidative stress and protects you from sun damage. It also keeps you hydrated and full.
Watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew from the melon family are also naturally occurring diuretics.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a power-packed summer food that is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. This wonder fruit is 95% water and is widely used in all our homemade dishes during summer. Tomato also contains lycopene, which a phytochemical widely believed to help fight cancer.
At our healthy cafe, we have a special sourdough sandwich with alfalfa sprouts and rich tomatoes in one of its fillings, which is one of our star summer dishes.
Oranges
Oranges are a sweet citrus fruit rich in potassium that plays a key role in our body’s mineral balance. It replenishes potassium in the body, reducing the risk of muscular cramps. Oranges are 80% water and can surely keep you hydrated during summers.
At our cafe, we use oranges in our cold-pressed juices and vegan smoothies to quench your thirst during the hot summer evenings.
Berries
Berries are one of our favourite foods to include in most of our dishes. A handful of berries can make any dull dish colourful, flavorful and nutrient-rich. Berries are high in vitamin C and filled with powerful flavonoids that help slow cognitive decline. They increase blood flow to the skin and reduce its light sensitivity.
Our cafe uses different kinds of berries in our smoothies, juices, water kefir, and breakfast dishes during summers.
Leafy greens
Leaf stemmed veggies like raw spinach and kale are summer special greens that you must consume. Green leaves hydrate and moisturize your skin even during peak summer. Carotenoids that are orange or dark-green are converted to vitamin A in your body and protect against sun damage. So don’t hesitate to spruce up your salads with spinach, kale, carrots, and beetroots.
At our healthy cafe, we favour leafy greens in our summer menu. They are used from salads to smoothies and everything in between!
Green tea and infusions
If you are looking for something familiar yet fresh to drink this summer, try green tea or infusions. Infusions using green tea as a base use flowers, leaves, or other organic products to add taste and flavour while enhancing the health benefits of drinking tea. Green tea infusions help fight cancer and heart diseases, lower cholesterol, improve metabolism, and increase memory and concentration. Green tea infusions can be sipped as a hot drink or as an iced cuppa without compromising its taste and nutritional benefits.
At our healthy cafe, we have a selection of organic tea infusions to choose from that will surely revive you after a long day.
So start your mindful eating journey this summer with the best seasonal foods available. We also invite you to The 100 Cafe nestled in our wellness centre in Dubai to try some of our summer-inspired dishes.
