8 Foods To Beat The Heat (Slideshow)

Mint and peppermint have cooling properties that give off aromas that can help beat sluggishness when it gets hot. Try a relaxing herbal tea or add a few mint leaves into your fruit salad.  

Leafy greens like spinach, arugula, and iceberg lettuce are high in water content and can help to lower your body temperature. Make a raw spinach salad or add a few leaves to your summer sandwich. 

Citrus fruits are some of the most cooling foods around. That includes oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes. Not only are they full of vitamin C, but they can keep your skin looking younger. Try adding a few orange or grapefruit segments to a salad or peeling and eating on the go. Lemons and limes make great additions to marinades and salad dressings.

Perfect for dipping in hummus or sliced on salads, this refreshing vegetable is great for hydration. Try making a chilled cucumber soup by blending cucumbers, yogurt, and ice to make an elegant and easy appetizer that will refresh and hydrate your guests.

Red and green tomatoes are high in water and during the summer months they are at their peak of ripeness and perfection. Slice them and serve them with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt over a bed of greens or eggs for breakfast. 

It's not a coincidence that many people in hot and tropical regions of the world eat spicy food. Foods like ginger, red chili, and cayenne pepper initially warm you up, but actually help cool you down. Try adding a pinch of red chili flakes to a fish or chicken dish. 

These little root vegetables add a juicy and spicy bite to any summer salad. They also add a healthy crunch and bright color to your menu. 

We know that watermelon is full of water, hence the name, but this melon is also high in antioxidants. Make a refreshing watermelon and feta salad or eat it by the slice.