Well, it is probably the best thing to plan a weekend getaway somewhere sunny like a beach or spend a summer day outside in parks or gardens with friends playing badminton (these are the summer activities that burn the most calories, in case you were curious), but have you ever notice the drowsiness that seems to overtake you after spending a day soaking up the summer sun? There are important reasons you start to feel sleepy after spending hours in the sun. No matter how much fun you have, it is important to look at what your health and body demands in that weather.
Whether you sit poolside or play volleyball, the sun is dehydrating your body, the National Sleep Foundation says. Even a relaxing afternoon of catching some rays on your favorite beach towel causes your body to sweat extensively, and thereby, the body ends up losing fluids and salt. The overwhelming sense of fatigue you feel could be a sign of dehydration, and this can increase your risk for other heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion. Be mindful of your fluid intake throughout the day and be sure to remain aware of other dehydration symptoms like headache and the faint like feeling.
Scientifically, all the time spent in the scorching sun causes your body to work hard, no matter what kind of fun in the sun you have. The National Sleep Foundation explains that our bodies work hard to maintain a constant internal temperature, and when we expose ourselves to long periods of heat, our body has to work in overdrive to maintain that temperature.
Being exposed to the sun bring along tons of chemical changes in the body. For instance, notice the suntan that you get after sunbathing for just a few minutes. The rays that cause this change are UV rays and can be really harmful for the skin and the body.The same chemicals that cause us to tan can also cause fatigue in the body when we spend too much time in the sun. In order to fight back, The National Sleep Foundation recommends avoiding heading outdoors during the hottest hours of the day, typically between noon and 3 p.m., and taking frequent breaks in the shade. Keep your activity balanced with plenty of resting and don’t forget to pack along a hat or an umbrella for additional cover. If you limit your sun exposure and remain mindful of the possible sunburn, you should be able to spend a day outdoors without feeling like you need a nap to recover from it.
And as the summer fun is not something to be missed out on account of being tanned or feeling fatigued later, we need a solution! Staying hydrated is the most important factor to keep going in this sweltering heat and maintain good health. Your body tends to lose water at a faster pace due to excessive sweating. While water is the utmost important drink to quench thirst, you can try other summery beverages that not only satisfy your thirst but also keep your body cool.
1. Jaljeera
Jaljeera is one of the most popular summer drinks in India, especially during the summer. The flavor of this drink is very lip-smacking and relishing. The best part of this amazing summer drink is that it has immense nutritional value. It is generally a mix of condiments and various spices. The main ingredients that jaljeera consists of is mango powder, black salt, ginger, and lemon. It is very simple to make it. The drink can be prepared by mixing the ingredients with water and having it chilled. It is a refreshing drink and is mainly consumed by people to help in the digestion process and get relief from intestinal gas. It also provides relief from heartburn. The natural health drink is very tasty and the pH level of the body is also maintained by drinking Jaljeera. In one glass of this refreshing drink, the number of calories present is 7. It is a low-calorie drink and the calorie breakdown is 67% fat, 33% carbohydrates, and 0% protein. The presence of sodium content in it is about 1,032mg and it does not contain any cholesterol or saturated fats. It neither contains any sugar nor any polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and trans fat in it. Jaljeera is usually served before lunch or dinner and as an appetizer. It not only boosts up your zest but it also helps in digestion of all the food that you have eaten all through the day.
2. Nimbu Pani (Lemon Water)
Nimbu paani also as called lemon water, is one of the healthiest and easiest to make drinks. And it does not just end there, it has many health benefits if included in day to day life, especially in summers. For people who usually suffer from pain and inflammation in the knees and joints should have lemon juice on a daily basis when empty stomach as lemons have a good amount of calcium in them. Summertime is holiday time for many people; they go out for a walk, enjoy water games, play with their children and enjoy beaches in clear weather but as mentioned above, they are exposed to the harsh sun as well. Lemon water is very good in common summer weather problems like nausea, heartburn, and dehydration. People who work in open places in high temperature suffer sunstroke, nausea, and dehydration very often. Lemon water is beneficial in all these ailments. Lemon can enhance the taste of water and increase your water intake during summer because it is very important to be hydrated in this season. Excess sweating and perspiration in summer not only dehydrate you but reduces salt and glucose level of your body too. Adding salt and sugar in lemon water can reverse the deficiency instantly. It is very helpful in diarrhea and indigestion also, which is very common in summer due to high mercury level. It is also helpful in other stomach disorders like bloating, constipation, gas and heartburn.
3. Aam Panna
Aam Panna is a famous Indian summer beverage known for its cooling properties. It is a perfect thirst quencher as it helps in fighting against the intense Indian summer heat. Due to excessive sweating, the body tends to lose iron and sodium chloride and having Aam Panna prevents excessive loss. Aam ka Panna is prepared from unripe mangoes and thus serves as a good source of nutrition. This drink is rich in carbohydrates, Vitamins A, B1, B2, and C. In addition to this, aam panna drink is a rich source for minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and iron. Nutrients like folate, pectin, choline are also found in it. In some Indian cultures, aam ka panna is considered as an immunity booster and a tonic that increases resistance against diseases such as dysentery, tuberculosis, and anemia. Aam Panna drink is a healthy beverage that has a number of remarkable health benefits. Mango is known to have a low glycemic index and thus does not increase the blood sugar levels if taken in limited quantities. Aam Panna brings blood insulin to a normal level and helps fight against diabetes or high blood sugar. Vitamin B6 is found in mangoes that help in producing BAGA acid which helps in making the central nervous system act as a neurotransmitter. Therefore, having Aam Panna can help to relax the mind and increases concentration. High Vitamin A levels found in Aam Panna helps to protect eyes from various diseases such as cataract, night blindness, dry eyes, etc.
4. Sugarcane Juice
Sugarcane is one of the main crops used in the production of sugar: 70% of the world’s sugar is made from sugarcane and the remaining 30% comes from the sugar beet crop. However, this isn’t the case for the sugarcane grown in India which happens to be the second largest producer of sugarcane, after Brazil. A lot of the sugarcane grown in India is first used to make jaggery followed by khandsari (unrefined or brown sugar), and then sugar which is processed using chemicals and sulphur. The remaining fibrous mass can be used as fuel, or to make paper or sound insulating boards and in some countries its used even to make alcohol. Nutritional value of Sugarcane: The juice Sugarcane per serving (28.35 grams) contain Energy-111.13 kJ (26.56 kcal), Carbohydrates-27.51 g, Protein-0.27 g, Calcium11.23 mg (1%), Iron 0.37 mg (3%), Potassium41.96 mg (1%), Sodium17.01 mg (1%). According to Ayurveda, sugarcane juice helps strengthen and is thus suggested as a remedy for jaundice. Jaundice is a condition where you find yellow pigmentation of the skin and membrane due to elevated levels of a substance known as bilirubin in the bodily fluids and is triggered by poor functioning liver. What sugarcane juice does is replenish your body with proteins lost and nutrients that it needs to recover quickly.