Thirsty? Say no to samalamig, yes to fresh fruit

The colorful samalamig is an irresistible treat, especially during the summer. The sweet, milky concoction seems like the perfect way to quench your thirst, especially when it has slices of fruit with high water content, such as melon and watermelon. But you might be better off eating fresh fruit that hasn't been chilled, in order to get more lycopene. "Bumababa ang lycopene content ng pakwan at melon kapag malamig siya. So better eaten siya na mainit," nutritionist Malou Caudal said on Balitanghali on April 15. Pineapple is also a good summer snack, along with vegetables like cucumbers, turnips, and upo. Caudal said that drinking samalamig will not actually quench your thirst. "Kung mapapansin mo kapag uminom ka ng samalamig, lalo kang nauuhaw after that. Lalo kang umiinom. So ang dagdag sa katawan mo puro calories," she said. She said that people should limit their consumption of diuretics, such as coffee, tea, and beer. "Ilimit muna natin yung mga diuretics. Yung mga diuretics ang tendency mo yung umihi nang umihi. 'Yung caffeinated," Caudal said. She also recommended drinking 10 glasses of water a day instead of the usual eight. Meanwhile, the Department of Health warned against drinking too much coffee, which can lead to dehydration. People should also avoid soft drinks and iced tea, DOH said. Like samalamig, halo-halo is another popular summer treat that may not be good for you. According to DOH Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag, cold food or drink will produce a cooling effect in the body after 15 minutes. However, the body will react to the cold and produce heat after, making you feel warm again. "Pagkakain mo niyan may cooling effect after 15 minutes. Kaso kalaunan, iinit din 'yung timpla ng katawan mo. Kasi magrereact 'yung katawan mo doon sa lamig. So magproproduce ka ng heat, kasi may compensatory mechanism 'yun eh," explained Tayag on 24 Oras on April 12. Leafy vegetables also help regulate body temperature, the report said. To avoid feeling irritable in the warm weather, Tayag recommended eating rice and spicy food. He explained that rice is a natural tranquilizer, because of its high magnesium content. "Natural tranquilizer siya. Nakita mo lahat ng kumakain ng kanin, lalo na kapag 'unli,' eh talagang satisfied na satisfied dahil sa magnesium," he said. Meanwhile, spicy food will help you sweat, which helps cool you down. "Gusto rin natin na papawisan tayo kasi alam mo 'yung pawis, pag nagevaporate 'yun, makakaramdam tayo ng lamig," Tayag said. — Carmela G. Lapeña, BM, GMA News