Nutrition Expert Says Philadelphians Need Diet Tweaks on Oppresive Summer Days
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- We all know to drink more water during these hot days, but should you change the way you eat?
Nyree Dardarian, who teaches at Drexel University's Department of Nutrition Sciences, says yes.
But she says you need not avoid most foods because of the heat.
"Continue to consume carbohydrates, preferably whole grains. Continue with lean proteins, lean dairy products as well, because energy needs are also elevated in high stress or heat," she explains.
Still, she says, it's very important to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet because their high water content is a great way to supplement the fluids you take in during the day.
"Cucumbers are about 95 percent water," Dardarian (right) notes by way of example, "and if you put a little bit of salt on when you're eating it, it also can replace sodium losses that are also lost in sweat."
Fruits and vegetables also provide antioxidants, more vitamin C, and overall better nutrition, she adds.
And for a nutritious alternative to regular popsicles and ice cream for the kids, she says, frozen fruit bars are a great way to keep cool while taking in much needed vitamins.
