Beat the heat with summer fruits (Video)

Summer is the first among the six seasons of Bangladesh. It brings down sweltering heat and many water-borne diseases on the people.

But nature has its subtle ways of keeping things at the balance – it offers the juicy and nutritious fruits to beat the heat and diseases in summer.

Fruits like mango, watermelon, pineapple, jackfruit and Aegle marmelos (Bael) are available this season. They are reasonably cheap and nutritious – which will help you stay cool and healthy through two months of sweat, dehydration, tiredness and drowsiness.

The wholesale markets in Dhaka are flooded with the summer fruits as farmers saw bumper productions across the country this year. A large quantity of the fruits comes to the capital’s markets from different districts. This correspondent visited a wholesale market at Karwan Bazar in the capital where retailers were busy to buy the fruits from the wholesalers in the morning.

Green mango can be eaten in many ways. It can be cooked with lentils. Its juice prevents excessive loss of sodium chloride and water due to excessive sweating. Only some days left for ripe mango that contains generous vitamin A and C.

Bangladesh is the eighth largest country for mango production in the world. Rajshahi, Chapainwabganj, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Natore are among other northern districts are popular for mango production in the country. According to Food and Agriculture Organization, the production in nine years till 2013 has been increased to 328000 tonnes from 622000 tonnes.

Jackfruit is a very popular fruit in Bangladesh. It is our national fruit. We can it with rice and milk which is a great traditional delicious dish in the summer.

Watermelon is also popular fruit which helps people stay hydrated. It protects skin against sun damage.

Pineapple is one of the popular and nutritious fruit during the warmer months Baishakh and Jaishtha. It includes vitamin C, vitamin B and fibre.

Besides, Bangi (melon), Coconut and Custard apple are common fruits in this season.