Well ladies and gents summer is officially here! That means it’s time to show off that body you’ve been working so hard on, hand out with friends and have a little fun. Unfortunately summer also means sweltering temperatures and humidity that can wreck havoc on our bodies. The golden rule for survival is to stay hydrated by drinking lots of cold water! But did you know you can keep your body hydrated with food too? Here are five healthy foods that will keep your body cool and in shape all summer long.

Melons & Mangoes

Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc) are the most cooling of all fruits because of their high water content. They also are good laxative and cleansing fruits, which is an excellent way to stay healthy. Grab some of these cool and sweet treats to make yourself a refreshing smoothie, tasty salad or simply eat as is for a quick snack.

Leafy Vegetables

Leafy vegetables bring a cooling effect to our bodies and that’s why salads are the perfect summer meal. Some excellent, cooling choices to top your salad with are citrus fruits, carrots, tomatoes and watercress.

Coconuts

Coconuts and coconut water is great natural food to keep you cool this summer. The electrolytes from drinking coconut water helps keep the water and minerals levels balanced in our bodies.

Herbs and Spices

Moderate amounts of spicy flavors can help the body to cool off in the summer heat. Spices like fresh ginger, cayenne, or black pepper will temporarily increase your internal warmth, but serve to disperse the heat on the body’s surface, ultimately cooling you. You can also use herbs like mint, lemon balm, cilantro and red clover to not only cool your body, but detoxify and build your immune system as well.

Yogurt

Everyone knows that yogurt is a great health food, but it can also be an instant cooler during those hot and hazy days. Grab some nice cold plain yogurt and top it off with another cooling food like melons, and you’ll be cool in no time.