By Melissa Williams

When the barometer goes up, our desire to cook goes down. But you still need to nourish your body. Look for beverages that offer the cooling tastes in Ayurveda — sweet, bitter, and astringent. Here are few foods and ingredients to look for as well as two recipes:

1. Melon is calming to the body. Mix 1 cup honeydew melon with 10 fresh mint leaves. Add a tablespoon of lime juice and a teaspoon of honey and blend.
   
   
2. Cucumber is renowned for its cooling properties, which is why it is so often used to “cool” inflamed skin. Take it a step further and make a cucumber splash.
   
   RECIPE: Mix 1 cup coconut water with 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice. Add a few slices of cucumber to the water and enjoy. You can also add cucumber slices to your regular water, or to a cup of cool green tea. Finally, cucumber is an easy addition to any other smoothie.
   
   
3. Pomegranate or cranberry. Both are hydrating and full of antioxidants.
   
   RECIPE: Mix 1 cup sparkling mineral water with ½ cup of either pomegranate or cranberry juice. Add a splash of lime juice and enjoy.