Beat the Heat with These Cooling Summer Foods The height of summer is here, and while a few months ago we couldn’t wait for the weather to warm up, we’re now desperately looking for ways to keep cool and lower our body temperature! Luckily for you, here at NetCost Market, we’ve put together a list of essential cooling foods that are both healthy and refreshing! Onions Okay, so we’re starting off with a weird one, but yes! Onions have surprisingly good cooling powers. In addition to their cooling effects, onion juice is actually very effective at treating heat stroke and cooling sunburned skin when it’s applied externally. Just make sure you don’t apply it before going out for dinner with friends, or you may end up eating alone… Yogurt Yogurt is an essential part of the diet in some of the hottest countries in the world – whether it’s a salted ayran in Turkey or a sweet lassi in India. The reason yogurt is so cooling is that it coats your mouth, throat, and stomach, drawing out the heat from the areas it touches. This is what gives it that refreshing taste! Radish Although radish has a peppery flavor, it’s great for keeping you cool – especially if it’s been stored in the fridge right before being eaten! This is because radish contains a large percentage of water, which keeps it cool right until it hits your stomach. Although radish is mostly made of water, it doesn’t mean that it’s void of goodness – the remaining parts contain high amounts of vitamin C and fiber which are essential in the summer months! Mint Well, this one is pretty obvious! Mint is naturally cooling whether it’s applied to the skin or eaten. What’s more, it’s great for fighting allergies and settling an upset stomach which is always a good thing because many people suffer from seasonal allergies and heat-related stomach issues. Melons Melons of all types have high water contents, so they keep cool right down to the stomach, cooling your body from the inside. What’s more, they are very versatile, meaning they can be added to salads, smoothies, desserts, or just eaten as a snack at the hottest part of the day! Corn Grilled corn is everywhere in the summer, and you may be thinking, “wait a second, how can something that’s grilled cool you down?”. Well, the answer is simple! Corn contains two unique phytochemical compounds called lutein and zeaxanthin that actively reduce the effect the Sun’s rays have on your skin which reduces the chance of sunburn. It’s also full of fiber which helps your body retain water with lower levels of salt – something that can otherwise lead to dehydration! So, there you have it – these are some of the most cooling foods out there. Some of them are pretty obvious, but others may leave you thinking twice about which foods keep you cool in the hottest months of the year! But before you go and make yourself an onion and corn smoothie, it’s always important to remember that one of the most effective ways to keep cool is to drink lots and lots of water – especially when you eat. If you’d like to find somewhere that offers you all of these great cooling foods, head down to NetCost Market where you’ll find the best quality fruits, vegetables, and other products that are perfect for battling the heat this summer! 8 Healthiest Foods to Keep You Looking and Feeling Great This Summer! Summer is here and boy aren’t we glad! It’s time to meet with friends for a grill, have a few cold drinks in the summer sun, and enjoy a refreshing, cooling ice cream! While these are some of the best things about summer, they can sometimes catch you off guard by adding a few extra pounds to your waistline! So, with this in mind, we at NetCost Market thought we’d put together a list of 8 super healthy foods that are great to keep your summer waistline in check so you can still enjoy those summer treats! Tomatoes The best, juiciest, locally-grown tomatoes come into season in July here in the Eastern US, so it’s the best time to stock up on these vitamin C and antioxidant-rich fruits. Try having them in a simple salad with mozzarella, fresh basil leaves, some olive oil, a splash of balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper! Peaches Peaches are another American favorite, and it’s easy to understand why! They’re many people’s favorite fruit which is good because they’re packed full of dietary fiber, vitamins A, and antioxidants, meaning they’ll keep you fuller for longer and protect your cells from the cancerous effects of the sun! Watermelon Well, it wouldn’t be summer without the classic watermelon! You can tell from the name that this fruit is great for keeping you hydrated, but you may not realize that watermelons also contain lycopene which is really effective at protecting skin cells from sun damage. The high water content of watermelons keeps you fuller for longer, helping stop cravings! Yogurt This may seem like a strange one, but high protein snacks like natural yogurt are very effective at keeping you from snacking on high-sugar foods. What’s more, cold dairy products have been shown as great coolers, helping you to stay cool and slim! Avocado It’s a well-known superfood, and it certainly deserves this status! Avocado is full of healthy fats which are really important for keeping your heart healthy. What’s more, they’re actually very filling, meaning that by eating them you’ll keep away from the weight adding foods like burgers and ice cream! Grilled fish Fish, especially oily fish like mackerel, salmon, or anchovies, are extremely healthy due to the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids they contain and the low amount of saturated fat. Fish that’s grilled is even healthier than fish that’s fried! So, next time you go to a family grill, why not bring along some marinated salmon fillets to impress everyone? Corn Nothing says summer like the smell of grilled corn! It’s so easy and healthy, it’s a wonder people don’t eat it more often. Corn is full of fiber but also contains lutein and zeaxanthin which are both great for helping the skin healthy in the sunshine! Iced Tea Iced tea is oh so refreshing, and it also contains all the added benefits of tea! Tea is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids that keep cancer at bay. It’s also good to add a little lemon juice to help preserve the flavonoids when the tea is cooling in the refrigerator. There’s a lot of temptation out there at this time of year – and you certainly shouldn’t avoid indulging in some treats like ice cream, summery drinks, and grilled foods – but if you’re watching your waistline, why not try balancing out your summer eating with these healthy summer foods? AtNetCost Market, we stock a huge range of healthy summer foods, so you’ll be able to put together some great, low-calorie summer meals! Quick and Easy Summer Recipes! During the Summer months, we often find ourselves naturally eating meals that are much lighter than those we eat in winter. This is often because eating heavy food when the weather’s warm makes us feel overly bloated, and because many of these lighter ingredients –greens, fresh fruits and vegetables, for example – have high water contents and are therefore much more refreshing. If only we craved these fresh ingredients all year round! Here at NetCost Market, we’ve got three easy, quick, and light summer recipes to keep you feeling refreshed during the summer heat! Cucumber salad with ginger pork This quick and easy summer salad is packed full of protein yet is light and refreshing. Cucumber, mint, and cilantro all give it that summer feel, and the ginger means it has a little summer zing! Recipe Ingredients: 1 cup cooked brown rice (white rice is also fine), 1 tbsp. vegetable oil, 1lb. ground pork, 2 cloves garlic – chopped, 1 small red chili – chopped, 2 ½ tbsp. grated fresh ginger, 2 tbsp. soy sauce, 4 tbsp. fresh lime juice, 1 tsp. brown sugar, 1 English cucumber – thinly sliced, 2 scallions – thinly sliced, 1 cup fresh cilantro, ½ cup fresh mint. To make: Put a skillet on medium heat. Add the vegetable oil and the pork. Cook until the meat is browned. Toss with garlic, red chili, and 2 tbsp. of the grated ginger. Remove from the heat and then toss with 2 tbsp. lime juice and 1 tbsp. soy sauce. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp. lime juice, 1 tbsp. soy sauce, ½ tbsp. grated ginger, and the brown sugar. Toss together with the cucumber and scallions, and then fold in the cilantro and mint. Serve salad with the pork over the rice. Summer Spaghetti with pesto Italy is known for its long summers, and it’s also known for having some of the best food in the world. This recipe combines the two, making a brilliantly light summer version of a classic Italian pasta dish! Recipe Ingredients: 1 lb. spaghetti – uncooked, 2 ears of corn – shucked, 1 medium yellow squash – cut into ½-inch thick slices, 1 medium zucchini – cut into ½-inch thick slices, 1 small bell pepper – deseeded and cut into sixths, 4 green onions – sliced, 2 tbsp.