7 cooling foods to keep at home.

Thailand is a hot country, so we should maintain our body temperature to avoid symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, constipation, dry skin, etc. This can be achieved by choosing cooling foods to reduce heat buildup in the body. Here are 7 cooling foods we recommend because they are easily available, affordable, and good for your body

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Watermelon: A common summer fruit readily available in markets. Eating watermelon chilled is a great way to cool down. It can also be used in many dishes, such as watermelon smoothies, watermelon with ice cream, watermelon bingsu, and watermelon with dried fish.

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Dragon fruit: Another healthy fruit perfect for summer, especially when chilled for extra refreshment. Besides helping to balance the body during the hot season, dragon fruit has many benefits due to its high fiber content, which aids in digestion. The small black seeds inside are also rich in unsaturated fats, which help fight oxidation and slow down aging.

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Doi Kham Chrysanthemum and Chamomile Tea (Sugar-Free) Cooling herbal drinks are another way to cool down the body and are easily available. They're a good alternative for those who don't usually consume cooling fruits or vegetables. Chrysanthemum tea is already refreshing, but this particular recipe is recommended because it's sugar-free, using artificial sweeteners, making it suitable for health-conscious individuals. It also contains chamomile, which has many benefits, especially promoting restful sleep and relaxation. It can be enjoyed chilled or with ice. The chrysanthemum tea has a sweet taste and a mild aroma. You might feel a slight bitterness in the throat, but it's not overpowering and becomes easier to drink as you continue sipping. It's also readily available in convenience stores and supermarkets.

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Zweet Herb Bael Fruit Juice is another recommended drink for hot weather to quench thirst and cool down. It's refreshing and has a pleasant aroma. Zweet Herb's Bael Fruit Juice is ideal for health-conscious individuals as it's sugar-free, preservative-free, and contains no artificial flavors or colors. With only 25 calories, it provides instant refreshment. It can be found in most supermarkets.

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Aloe Vera and Pandan Leaf Drink, Wan Thai Brand. Many people may feel uncomfortable consuming aloe vera, despite it being a cooling herb. Therefore, we recommend an aloe vera and pandan leaf drink instead, as it's easier to drink. Pandan leaf is also a cooling herb, and when combined with aloe vera, it creates a beneficial drink. Although this brand contains sugar, it's less than many other brands on the market. It's even more delicious when served with ice, and you get the soft yet slightly crunchy texture of the aloe vera. Available at most supermarkets.

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Tamarind Leaves (Ivy Gourd): A type of vegetable used in cooking or eaten raw. It can be boiled or blanched and eaten with chili paste. It's also used in various curries such as clear soup, spicy soup, pork blood soup, and even in noodle dishes.

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Cucumber: A prominent benefit of cucumber is its ability to quench thirst, reduce body heat, refresh the body, and increase hydration. Therefore, if we are going to consume cucumber... These can be eaten fresh with chili paste, or used in dishes such as cucumber salad with Chinese sausage, cucumber salad with canned fish, stuffed cucumber soup, cucumber salad with egg, and stir-fried cucumber with eggs.

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In addition to these examples of cooling foods, there are many other fruits and vegetables with cooling properties, such as rose apple, mangosteen, cantaloupe, Thai melon, melon, zucchini, winter melon, Rhinacanthus nasutus, Moringa oleifera, and okra.
Herbal drinks such as Centella asiatica juice and lotus root juice can also be consumed to lower body temperature.

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Thank you for the helpful information from Sanook.