Summer coolers

Think of summer fruit and you automatically start drooling. No other fruit says summer like the crunchy,thirst quenching melon of the Cucurbitaceae family.

This season make the most of the fruit basket

Think of summer fruit and you automatically start drooling. No other fruit says summer like the crunchy,thirst quenching melon of the Cucurbitaceae family. Although watermelons can now be found in the markets throughout the year,the season for watermelon is in the summer when they are sweet and of the best quality. Musk melon is diuretic,nutrient dense,laxative and antilithic. Seeds are used to dissolve excessive uric acid. Jamun or the black plum has its dark flesh which is beneficial in spleen enlargement while the seed of the fruit is used as a remedy in diabetes. Litchi or Chinese hazelnut is a summer coolant,a thirst quencher and is useful as a demulcent and an aphrodisiac. The divine fruit,mango is very rich in Vitamin C and A. Along with improving complexion and vision,mangoes stimulates appetite,cleanse liver and tone the heart.

Oranges are nature’s finest gift to man. Orange is the most beneficial when eaten as it is without the outer skin and pips of course. Once juiced,the orange loses its fibre and a few nutrients. As summer moves into its hottest weeks,I think only of peaches,the sensual,soft juicy fruit brimming with nutrients such as potassium,phosphorus,magnesium,copper,iron,vitamins C and A. Cherries are stone fruits related to the plum,peach,apricot,and almond,all of which,interestingly are relatives of the rose. They are available in pale red to very dark red growing sweeter as they get darker. Cherries have many health benefits. They contain anti-ageing antioxidants and are full of fibre,vitamins A,B and C,and lots of minerals such as calcium,iron and potassium. Cherries have no fat. They are also good for purifying the blood and for boosting energy. Rich in anthocyanins and bioflavonoids,these compounds help to relieve and prevent arthritis and gout. They also reduce pain and inflammation as well as eliminate migraine. I share the recipe of my all-time favourite non-dairy smoothie which not only tastes good but is packed in nutrients.

Vita Pack Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup frozen summer fruit (water melon,sun melon,orange,cherries,mango,pineapple)

1 scoop of whey powder

1 tbsp flaxseed oil

1 tbsp ground flaxseed

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp unsweetened grape or cranberry juice

1 tsp demerara or Stevia leaves for sweetening

8 ice cubes

1 cup water

Method