Why we love Summer drinks (and you should too)

Summer is synonymous with sweat, tiredness and lethargy. Children often want to play outdoors but the heat leaves them dehydrated, exhausted and weary. This makes them suffer from dehydration, diarrhea, and gastritis. The key to staying healthy and active during scorching summer months is getting enough fluids.

Here are a few easy and healthy recipes to keep the kids hydrated during the scorching summer heat:

1. Lemonade: The classic lemonade is grandma’s secret to good health. It is rich in Vitamin C and helps in restoring body’s lost electrolytes. It is super easy to prepare and delicious too. Just add a spoon of sugar, two spoons of lemon juice and a mint leaf to a glass of chilled water. Add a pinch of black salt to give it a sweet and salty flavor.

2. Watermelon juice: Watermelon comprises 92% water. This makes it a very healthy option during summers. The fruit has natural sweetness so it doesn’t require any additional sugar. Extract the juice and mix it with crushed ice. Add some mint leaves to it for a cool flavour. Remember to consume it during the daytime as watermelon is not suitable to be consumed later in the day.

3. Mixed fruit Smoothie: A smoothie is a healthy breakfast option for children. It has the goodness of fruits and yogurt. It keeps the children hydrated and provides them with the daily dose of fiber. Just add equal quantities of kiwi, strawberry and banana with a bowl of yogurt. Blend all the ingredients together and add a little sugar, if required. Serve it with chunks of strawberry for additional fiber.

4. Coconut water: Coconut water is a natural health drink. A rich source of magnesium and potassium, it has 94% water content. You can buy it locally at a nearby farmers’ market. Children can consume coconut water daily to get their recommended dose of vitamin C.

5. Bel ka sharbat: Bel (bael) is also known as Bengal quince. The fruit has medicinal values and is even used for treating heart diseases. Bel juice is a time-tested remedy for curing constipation and preventing heat strokes. It is very simple to prepare the bael drink (sharbat). Extract the pulp from inside the fruit and let it soak in 500ml of water. Mash the pulp nicely with clean hands and strain the mixture. Now add 3 spoons of jaggery/ sugar and a couple of mint leaves. Adjust the consistency by adding more water, if required. Let it cool and serve chilled. Bel helps prevent dehydration and is one of best fruits for dealing with chronic constipation and stomach ulcers in children.

Last but not the least make sure your kids consume 8 – 10 glasses of water every day.