Nutritionist: "against the heat, watermelon and summer fruits to naturally integrate mineral salts"

When you sweat you also lose substances that water can't always replace. And the benefits, explains Ciro Vestita, "are not only against the risks of the heat. We also abound with blueberries, raspberries, currants, blackberries that are low in sugar"

Seasonal fruit is an ally against the summer heat: in addition to allowing a cool break, it is also a natural 'supplement' of mineral salts and increases water intake. This is the word of Ciro Vestita, a doctor and expert in nutrition and phytotherapy who recalls the benefits of fruit which - sugars aside, to be limited in cases where the quantity must be kept under control - reconciles taste and health.

"We are in a torrid summer - Vestita recalls - we sweat a lot. Drinking lots of water is the right remedy but it is not entirely sufficient because with sweat we also lose mineral salts. Adding fruit to the diet, especially those richest in these micronutrients, is a good solution". Which fruits should we prefer? "First of all watermelon - Vestita adds - but also apricots, pineapple which can give us magnesium and potassium". And that is not the only advantage. "Eating a lot of watermelon, for example, also has great benefits for the prostate. It is a very watery food and rich in antioxidants, two beneficial elements for the urinary tract. And then there is a 'secret' in watermelon: the white part, called albedo, is very rich in sterols that fight cholesterolemia but above all lower uric acid. Normally we throw it away because it is not very sugary but eating small doses can be very useful".

A 'secret' known in the past. "Lorenzo the Magnificent had gout, as did his father. And they treated themselves with watermelon. In Florence, the current 'Via Ricasoli' was once called 'Via del Cocomero' in homage to the therapeutic virtues of this fruit". Another 'gift' of the summer is apricots. "These too - says Vestita - contain a mystery. Experience shows that they are useful for raising sideremia in young women and yet they do not contain iron". Finally, blueberries, considered 'nutriceutists', foods that nourish and cure at the same time, should not be underestimated. They contain a substance called myrtilene, which reduces the ability of viruses and bacteria to attack the walls of the bladder, preventing cystitis. Be careful though, if the cystitis is acute, antibiotics are needed. Blueberries will help against relapses. Other important fruits are wild ones: raspberries, currants, blackberries. mulberries. They are very rich in anthocyanins (which give them their dark color and are antioxidants), mineral salts, vitamins and have little sugar. So let's be generous with them", concludes Vestita.