India is currently grappling with an intense heatwave as temperatures soar, reaching 44-48°C across many cities. According to reports, Delhi is experiencing 44-45°C, while Uttar Pradesh's Banda district has recorded over 48°C. The weather department has issued orange alerts for Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, warning of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions. Red alerts have been sounded for warm night conditions in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha. In light of the rising temperatures and heatwave, the Ministry of Ayush has issued a public health advisory recommending general food and drink measures for daily life.
Stay Hydrated
The Ministry suggests drinking plenty of water throughout the day to keep the body hydrated. The advisory also recommends including buttermilk, coconut water, and fruit juices in the daily diet to maintain fluid levels and stay cool.
Use Cooling Beverages
It is also recommended to incorporate naturally cooling drinks like coconut water, lemon juice, or fruit-based drinks. According to experts, these help lower body temperature and keep you refreshed.
Eat Light Meals
The advisory suggests opting for light, easy-to-digest meals before leaving the house. It strictly advises avoiding heavy or oily foods, as they can increase body heat.
Use Cooling Water Infusion
One can also keep cooling ingredients handy that can be converted into drinks. Ingredients like khus (vetiver), sariva (Indian sarsaparilla), jeera (cumin), and dhanyaka (coriander seeds) can help reduce body heat.
Enjoy Sattu-based Refreshments
The advisory recommends consuming sattu (a coarse powder made from roasted barley or Bengal gram) mixed with jaggery or rock salt as a drink for a cooling and refreshing treat.
Eat Cooling Snacks
It also recommends including foods like falsa (Indian blackberry), munakka (raisins), laja (parched paddy), and petha (candied ash gourd) in your diet for their cooling properties.
Include Hydrating Fruits and Vegetables
Consuming fruits and vegetables that contain high water content, such as grapes, cucumber, watermelon, water chestnut, muskmelon, mango, and sugarcane juice is also advisable. Bael sharbat is also an excellent option to beat the heat.
Drink Milk with Sugar
The advisory also suggests staying hydrated and maintaining energy by drinking milk with added sugar.
