Why Should You Avoid Fried Foods in Summer?

Summer is a time of sunshine, vacations and relaxing outdoor activities. However, it also brings extreme heat that can affect our health and well-being. Although eating delicious, golden fried food may seem like a good idea, it is wise to consider this option, especially during the hot summer months.

To understand why you should say ‘no’ to fried foods as the temperature rises, OnlyMyHealth spoke to Ramya B, Registered Dietitian, Cloudnine group of Hospitals, Chennai.

Here are the reasons listed by Ramya on why avoiding fried foods in summer is a smart move for your health and well-being.

1. Heat and Dehydration

“Fried foods are often high in fat, which can raise body temperature and contribute to dehydration,” Ramya explained. This effect can be particularly unpleasant on hot summer days.

2. Digestive problems

Too much fat in fried foods can be hard on the digestive system, and can cause indigestion, bloating and discomfort. In addition, Ramya said, “In summer, your body is already working hard to stay cool, so avoiding foods that increase stress on the digestive system is good.”

3. Increased Sweating

“Eating oily and fatty foods can cause a person to sweat excessively, as the body uses a lot of energy to digest these foods. This can make you feel uncomfortable in the heat,” said Ramya.

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4. General Health

Fried foods are generally high in calories, unhealthy fats, and sometimes trans fats, which contribute to weight gain and other health issues like heart disease. Keeping a light diet of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean proteins is good, especially during summer, Ramya suggested.

5. Heat-Related Illnesses

Eating very heavy, fatty foods can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heatstroke, by making it harder for the body to regulate its temperature effectively.

6. Food poisoning

Fried foods stored for long hours are at risk of microbial growth. Bacterial and other pathogen growth will be higher during the summer and the chances of getting food poisoning are higher.

It is advisable to choose light, watery, and easily digestible foods that can help you stay cool and comfortable during the summer months.

According to Ramya, the very young and the elderly should be especially careful with fried food during the summer.

1. Children

Sensitive Digestive Systems : Young children have digestive systems that may struggle with high levels of fat in fried foods, leading to indigestion or discomfort.

Risk of Dehydration: Children are at risk of dehydration, especially in the heat, and fried foods can exacerbate this risk by increasing body temperature and reducing fluid intake.

Nutritional Requirements: Children need a balanced diet rich in nutrients for proper growth and development, and eating too much fried food can take away more nutritious foods.

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2. Adults

Poor metabolism: Aging slows metabolism, making it harder for the body to process high-fat foods. It leads to digestive issues and other serious problems

Chronic conditions: Many older people have chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or high cholesterol, which can be worsened by eating fried foods.

Risk of Dehydration: Older adults are also at risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses, and the addition of fried foods can increase these risks.

The end

In general, people of all ages should limit their intake of fried foods, especially during hot weather, to maintain overall health and well-being. However, children and the elderly should be especially careful because of their increased risk of the negative effects of fried foods and summer heat.