When summer hits, avoid these 7 foods in your diet to stay cool

 It's crucial to stay hydrated and refresh your body as the temperature rises and summer arrives. You frequently concentrate on staying hydrated to combat the heat, but it's just as important to be mindful of the things you eat. Get to learn how specific foods and drinks affect your level of hydration, highlighting the typical offenders that may unintentionally cause you to feel dehydrated. By understanding which foods and beverages to consume and being conscious of their dehydrating properties, you can make informed decisions to be well hydrated in the summer!

Spicy Food

A lot of people like this food to be spicy and filled with a lot of flavours. However, during the summer, one must try to reduce the spice intake. During these peak summer months, it can lead to stomach inflammation and acid reflux. If you’re cooking with chilli powder and similar spicing ingredients, it contains capsaicin, which can lead to irritation of the lining of the stomach, also called digestive discomfort. This may further lead to the problems of inflammation and dehydration. A great way to balance a spicy meal is to eat it with some curd or cucumber on the side. Moderation is always the key to stay away from sickness.

Processed Meat

Deli meats, hot dogs, and sausages are convenient summer staples, but they can be high in sodium and preservatives. These additives can have a dehydrating effect, so it's essential to pair them with hydrating options like fresh vegetables or fruits. You can add them in your salad bowl, have it with some yoghurt dip, add a few more cooling ingredients to make the meat recipes tasty and reduce the risk of being dehydrated.

When Summer Hits, Avoid These 7 Foods In Your Diet To Stay Cool

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Alcohol

Enjoying a refreshing cocktail or beer during summer gatherings is common, but alcohol is known for its diuretic properties. It increases urine production and can lead to dehydration if not consumed in moderation. It's essential to alternate alcoholic beverages with water to stay hydrated. 

Caffeinated Beverages

Coffee, tea, and certain soft drinks contain caffeine, which acts as a diuretic. While other months make one drink cups and cups of their favourite drink, summers can turn it around with just a sip. In summers, too much caffeine leads to really high elimination, really quickly from the body. Drinking in moderation is key. 

High Sugar Desserts

On hot days, sweet snacks like ice cream, popsicles, and pastries can be cooling, but they frequently have a lot of sugar. Overindulging in sugar can increase the output of urine, which may exacerbate dehydration. Choose more hydrating and healthful options, such as fruit-based sweets or low-sugar desserts.

When Summer Hits, Avoid These 7 Foods In Your Diet To Stay Cool

Image Credit: Pexels

Pickles

Pickles, just like fried food, have a very high amount of vegetable oil along with spices and sodium. The combination of all these ingredients is not good for your health during the summer. Spices can lead to inflammation in the stomach, oil can lead to dehydration, and high sodium can disturb the pH levels of the body. If you want to consume pickles on a sporadic basis, then you must make sure that you're also hydrating yourself by drinking water from time to time. 

Cabbage

Since cabbage is a non-seasonal vegetable in many areas, which means it frequently lacks peak freshness, it is better to examine and figure out if the cabbage you are purchasing is worthy of being cooked. Meals made with out-of-season cabbage may be less flavourful and nutrient-dense. Cabbage can also lead to bloating and intestinal distress, which is especially undesirable in the summer heat. Opting for seasonal vegetables ensures better taste and health benefits, aligning with the body's needs during the warmer months.

When the heat turns up, your body works overtime to maintain its internal temperature. While a spicy curry or a heavy burger might sound good in the moment, certain foods act like metabolic kindling, spiking your body heat or leaving you dehydrated.

To stay breezy this summer, you might want to rethink these seven items:

1. High-Protein Red Meats

Digesting protein requires a lot of energy, leading to a process called thermogenesis. Red meats (like beef and lamb) are particularly dense, meaning your body has to work harder—and generate more internal heat—just to break them down.

2. Excessively Spicy Foods

Capsaicin, the compound in chilies, triggers a heat response in the body. While it can technically help you cool down eventually via sweating (evaporative cooling), the initial spike in body temperature and heart rate can feel overwhelming when the ambient air is already 35°C.

3. Diuretic Beverages (Coffee & Tea)

Caffeine is a natural diuretic, meaning it encourages your body to flush out fluids. In the summer, you're already losing water through sweat; overdoing the iced lattes can lead to dehydration and the dreaded "heat headache."

4. Fried and Junk Foods

Greasy foods are high in fats and oils, which are notoriously slow to digest. This sluggish digestion keeps your metabolic rate high for longer, making you feel "stuffy" and lethargic in the heat.

5. Salty Snacks

Sodium draws water away from your cells to balance your bloodstream. High salt intake from chips or processed snacks leads to rapid dehydration and can make you feel bloated and thirsty.

6. Sugary Treats and Sodas

That ice-cold soda gives you a temporary chill, but the massive sugar spike causes a metabolic "rebound." As your body processes the sugar, it uses up water, often leaving you more dehydrated than you were before the first sip.

7. Pickles and Fermented Foods

While great for the gut, many pickles are loaded with salt and vinegar. Excess salt leads to water retention and thirst, which can make you feel heavy and uncomfortable during a heatwave.

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What to Eat Instead?

To keep your internal thermostat low, pivot toward high-water-content foods:

• Cucumber and Watermelon: Over 90% water.

• Mint: Contains menthol, which tricks your brain into feeling a cooling sensation.

• Curd/Yogurt: Naturally cooling and light on the stomach.

Would you like me to put together a 3-day "Cooling Meal Plan" using these ingredients?

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‘Hopefully he’s human’: Glenn Phillips on facing Jasprit Bumrah in T20 World Cup final

 

IND vs NZ T20 World Cup 2026 Final: New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips acknowledged Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance and expressed hope that the star Indian fast bowler will have an off day during the final. Bumrah has been a key player for India in the tournament, delivering match-winning performances.

Bumrah's control of line and length in death overs, along with his precise Yorkers under pressure, has made him a nightmare for opposing batters.

Phillips believes even the best bowlers have off days and says New Zealand will look to capitalize if that happens.

ALSO READ: ICC T20 World Cup 2026: India vs New Zealand Final To Be Played On Flat Surface At Narendra Modi Stadium, Claims Report

"Bumrah is a fantastic bowler. He's got so many variations. He hits the blockhole at the death incredibly well. You know, and he's human as well. He is allowed to have a bad day, as are the rest of us. So hopefully we have a good day against him," Phillips told reporters.

Considered as one of the greats of the modern era, Bumrah yet again showed his worth during the semifinal against England in Mumbai on Thursday.

In that match, where 499 runs were scored and 34 sixes hit, Bumrah produced crucial figures of 1/33 in four overs, applying pressure on England at key moments.

India's opener Sanju Samson, named Man of the Match, called Bumrah a once-in-a-generation bowler and said Bumrah also deserved the award.

Bumrah has been India's standout performer in the tournament, delivering match-winning spells against Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, and England, especially in death overs.

Phillips noted Bumrah's impact in the semifinal, saying teams aim to survive his overs before attacking other bowlers.

"The way England played him yesterday, in terms of trying to take on the last two overs, and give themselves as much of a chance as possible. That was the tactic that they'd employed", he added.

The Kiwi all-rounder stressed they can't just survive Bumrah's overs; if he struggles, they must try to score runs.

"It's not always about survival. If a bowler misses, we need to capitalize. If he bowls well, we must adjust," he concluded.

With everything at stake, Mitchell Santner's side hopes Bumrah has an off-day, but statistics show he rarely does.

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When alcohol turns harmful: Liver specialist explains the medicines that should never be mixed with it

 

Alcohol slips into daily life as a way to unwind, but it can turn risky when it meets certain medicines. The mix may dull reflexes, strain the liver, or even flip a safe drug into something dangerous. Many people assume that “one drink” is harmless, but the body works hard to break down both alcohol and medicines, and this shared burden can change how each one behaves. Dr Saurabh Singhal, Senior Consultant & Director, Centre for Liver-GI Diseases and Transplantation at Aakash Healthcare, notes that some combinations can disrupt treatment or cause sudden, severe reactions. The goal here is to understand these interactions in clear terms so that the next time a drink is offered during a course of medication, the choice feels informed, not uncertain.

Anti-anxiety drugs and the silent drop in alertness

Medicines prescribed for anxiety, such as benzodiazepines, slow down nerve activity so the mind can calm. Alcohol pushes the same brake pedal. When the two overlap, the slowdown becomes much stronger than expected. People often describe this as a sudden heaviness in the body or a strange delay in reacting to simple things. The risk is not only sedation. Breathing may become shallow, and coordination can slip in minutes. Doctors frequently see this combination turning routine tasks like walking or climbing stairs into real hazards. In severe cases, the combined depressant effect can lead to dangerous blackouts or respiratory failure, making the interaction especially unsafe even at low doses.

Sleep medications that turn too strong

Sleep pills work by relaxing the brain’s wake pathways. Alcohol acts on similar circuits. Together they can cause memory blackouts, confusion, and episodes of deep sedation that do not feel like natural sleep. A person may appear to be resting, yet the body might be fighting to keep breathing steady. Many people underestimate this because both items are familiar, but their combined effect is far from gentle. Even small doses can stretch grogginess into the next day, affecting judgment and reaction time.

Antihistamines and the “heavy eyelid” effect

Older antihistamines, often taken for cold, cough, or allergies, already make the eyes droop. Alcohol amplifies this so sharply that staying awake can feel like lifting weights with the eyelids. This pairing also slows motor control, so even short drives or operating simple appliances become unsafe. While newer antihistamines are milder, many Indian households still stock the older versions, which makes awareness vital.

Painkillers that strain the liver

Two common types of pain relief need special caution.

Opioids can become dangerously suppressive with alcohol, affecting breathing and heart rhythm.

Paracetamol, trusted across homes, becomes a real concern because both alcohol and paracetamol travel through the same liver pathways. When taken together, especially in repeated doses, the liver faces overwhelming stress. This can raise toxic byproducts and increase the risk of liver injury. Dr Singhal’s clinical experience shows that people often ignore this interaction because paracetamol feels “safe,” but the liver does not see it that way.

Antibiotics that trigger sudden, unpleasant reactions

Not all antibiotics clash with alcohol, but a few do. Metronidazole and tinidazole are known for causing flushing, pounding heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting when mixed with alcohol. This reaction can strike within minutes. The body treats the combination like a toxin, and even small amounts of alcohol, hidden in mouthwash or fermented foods, can set it off. During these antibiotics, skipping alcohol is not advice but a requirement.

Medicines for heart, sugar, and blood flow

Some heart medications, blood thinners, and diabetes drugs behave unpredictably with alcohol.

Blood thinners may either become too strong or too weak, disrupting the delicate balance needed to prevent clots.

Diabetes drugs can lead to sharp drops in blood sugar, especially when paired with drinking on an empty stomach.

Certain heart medications may lose their rhythm-stabilising effect or cause dizziness when combined with alcohol.

These reactions vary from person to person, which makes mixing them with alcohol a gamble the body must pay for.

(Disclaimer: This article offers general information and should not replace medical advice. Drug interactions vary based on dose, health conditions, and individual response. Always consult a qualified doctor before mixing alcohol with any medication.)

Mixing alcohol with medication is often treated as a minor warning on a pill bottle, but from a hepatologist's (liver specialist) perspective, it can be a recipe for acute organ failure. The liver is your body's primary filtration system; when it has to process both ethanol and potent pharmaceuticals simultaneously, the chemical interactions can become toxic.

Here are the critical categories of medicines that a liver specialist would warn you to never mix with alcohol.

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1. The "Silent Killer": Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)

This is the most dangerous common combination. Both alcohol and acetaminophen are processed by the liver using the same metabolic pathway.

• The Science: When the liver is busy processing alcohol, it produces a toxic byproduct from the acetaminophen called NAPQI. Normally, the liver neutralizes this, but alcohol depletes the "antioxidant" (glutathione) needed to do so.

• The Risk: Even a "standard" dose of Tylenol taken after a few drinks can trigger acute liver failure.

• Specialist Tip: Never take paracetamol for a hangover headache while alcohol is still in your system.

2. Antibiotics: The "Antabuse" Effect

While many believe alcohol simply "cancels out" antibiotics, the reality is more violent with specific types like Metronidazole or Tinidazole.

• The Reaction: These drugs block the enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde (a toxic byproduct of alcohol).

• The Result: You may experience extreme nausea, projectile vomiting, rapid heartbeat, and "flushing" (redness). It mimics a severe, immediate hangover.

3. Statins (Cholesterol Medication)

Statins (like Atorvastatin or Rosuvastatin) are already hard on the liver—doctors often monitor liver enzymes while you are on them.

• The Risk: Chronic alcohol use combined with statins significantly increases the risk of hepatotoxicity (liver damage) and permanent scarring (cirrhosis).

4. NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Naproxen)

While these are more famous for stomach issues, the liver specialist worries about the "double whammy" on your internal lining and blood.

• The Risk: Alcohol thins the blood, and NSAIDs irritate the stomach lining. Mixing them drastically increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers, which puts immense secondary stress on the liver to filter the resulting toxins.

  
  
  

5. Sedatives and Anxiety Meds (Benzodiazepines)

Meds like Xanax, Valium, or even over-the-counter sleep aids (melatonin or Benadryl).

• The Risk: Both are central nervous system depressants. They "potentiate" each other, meaning $1 + 1 = 5$.

• The Result: This can lead to respiratory depression (you stop breathing in your sleep) or extreme dizziness leading to falls and liver trauma.

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The "Golden Rule" of the Liver Specialist

If you are on a long-term prescription, your liver is already working "overtime" to clear those chemicals. Adding alcohol is like asking a marathon runner to carry a backpack full of bricks mid-race.

Note: If you have accidentally mixed these, look for "Red Flag" symptoms: yellowing of the eyes (jaundice), dark-colored urine, or intense pain in the upper right side of your abdomen.

Would you like me to find a list of "liver-friendly" alternatives for common ailments like headaches or allergies?

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