After the rainy season ends, renewed heat is scorching the entire country, and for many rich food becomes out of the question. Instead, various fresh blended fruit and vegetable juices can provide all the nutrients you need, offer a refreshment, and improve your health.

◆ How To

Tomato Juice: Stop the blender just before the tomatoes get completely mashed. If you blend it too finely, tomato juice separates out into clear liquid and pulp. Sieve out any hard parts or skin to make the juice tastier and more refreshing. A dash of water helps the blending process.

Kiwi Juice: If you blend kiwis at high speeds, the color will change and the juice feels unpleasantly rough in the throat because the seeds get all ground up. Blending them slowly at low speed mashes up only the pulp and leaves the seeds intact.   

Watermelon Juice: De-seeded watermelons make the perfect cooling juice for hot weather. But only blend the delicate fruit just before drinking, because it starts to smell if left out for more than an hour.

Cucumber Juice: Blend cucumbers with their skin on after washing them with coarse salt. Add celery and a dash of lemon juice.

◆ Benefits

Tomatoes: Their red pigment lycopene suppresses free oxygen radicals, helping prevent cancer, stroke and heart disease. They are rich in vitamins A and C, making them ideal for recovering from fatigue and hangover -- which is why the Bloody Mary is such a popular morning-after cocktail.

Kiwis: Kiwis are high in vitamin C and vegetable fiber. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and removes free oxygen radicals, helping prevent cancer and cataract and slowing the ageing process. They are also rich in the protein-dissolving enzyme actinidin, making them an ideal pairing with meat.

Watermelons: Watermelons contains more water than any other fruit, and are therefore good for preventing dehydration and treating sunstroke. However, if you are prone to colds or diarrhea, they are better avoided.

Cucumbers: Cucumbers accelerate urination due to the large amount of water they contain. This helps better circulation and reduces high blood pressure. Like watermelon, they are best avoided if you are prone to colds or gastric trouble.