'Body heat' is a familiar complaint in Indian summers: acidity, mouth ulcers, burning urine, boils, poor sleep and irritability. Cooling foods work mostly by keeping you hydrated, replacing salts lost in sweat, and being easy to digest.
15 body cooling foods and drinks
Buttermilk (chaas)
Fluid, salt and probiotics in one glass. Add roasted jeera, mint and a pinch of salt.
Coconut water
Natural electrolytes, especially potassium. People with kidney disease should check with their doctor first.
Curd
Easy on the stomach in the heat; have it with lunch as raita or plain.
Sabja (sweet basil) seeds
Soaked sabja forms a cooling gel; add to lemon water or milk.
Kokum sherbet
A Konkan favourite that settles acidity; use little sugar.
Aam panna
Raw mango drink with jeera and salt — a traditional protection against heat.
Cucumber
About 95% water; eat as salad, raita or with a pinch of salt.
Watermelon and muskmelon
Hydrating fruits; eat them whole rather than as sweetened juice.
Lauki (bottle gourd)
Light, watery vegetable; as sabzi, raita or soup.
Mint (pudina)
Fresh, cooling flavour for chaas, chutney and lemon water.
Saunf (fennel) water
Soak a teaspoon overnight and drink in the morning; also helps digestion.
Sattu drink
Roasted chana flour in water with lemon and salt — filling and cooling.
Lemon water (nimbu pani)
With a pinch of salt and little sugar it replaces sweat losses.
Ragi ambli
A thin fermented ragi drink, popular in South India.
Gulkand
Rose-petal preserve; traditional but sugary, so keep to a teaspoon.
Cut down on these in the heat
- Very spicy, oily and deep-fried food, which adds to acidity and thirst.
- Alcohol, which dehydrates.
- Large amounts of tea, coffee and energy drinks.
- Soft drinks and packaged juices — the sugar doesn't help hydration.
- Heavy meals in the afternoon heat; eat lighter and more often.
Practical tips for hot days
- Drink water through the day, before you feel thirsty; urine should stay pale yellow.
- Avoid going out between 12 and 4 pm when possible; wear loose cotton and cover your head.
- Children, older people, pregnant women and people with diabetes, heart or kidney disease dehydrate faster — check on them.
- Never leave a child or pet in a parked car.
Heat stroke is an emergency
High body temperature with confusion, fainting, a seizure, hot dry skin, or vomiting needs emergency care: call 112, move the person to shade, loosen clothing and cool them with water and fanning while help comes.
Homeopathy for summer complaints
Recurring summer problems such as prickly heat, acidity, mouth ulcers, boils and urinary burning can be treated homeopathically as part of your constitution. Read summer health and homeopathy and prickly heat remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which food is best to reduce body heat?▾
Buttermilk, coconut water, curd, cucumber, watermelon, sabja seeds and lauki are among the most useful. They cool the body mainly by keeping you hydrated and replacing salts lost in sweat.
Is coconut water good for everyone in summer?▾
For most people, yes. People with kidney disease or on medicines that raise potassium should check with their doctor first, because coconut water is rich in potassium.
How much water should I drink in summer?▾
Most adults need more than their usual 2–3 litres on hot days, spread through the day. Pale-yellow urine is a simple sign you're drinking enough. People with heart or kidney disease should follow their doctor's fluid advice.
What are the signs of heat stroke?▾
Very high body temperature, confusion, fainting, hot dry skin, a seizure or vomiting. It is an emergency: call 112 and start cooling the person straight away.
Summer acidity, boils or prickly heat every year?
Book a consultation with Dr. Meera Thakur for constitutional homeopathic care for recurring seasonal complaints — in Kharadi, Pune, or online.
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Dr. Meera Thakur
BHMS · HealthKunj Clinics, Kharadi, Pune· Published 25 Oct 2026
Medically reviewed by Dr. Meera Thakur, BHMS · Last reviewed 4 Nov 2026
Dr. Meera has 15+ years of experience in individualised homeopathic practice with a special interest in women's hormonal health, skin disorders, and paediatric care.
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