Beat the Heat with these 5 Stay-Cool Summer Tips!
Summer is here- let the Fourth of July fireworks, cookouts and pool parties begin! As awesome as summer is, it can also be a hard time to keep cool inside your home and take care of your body properly when temperatures start to climb. Follow these tips for staying cool this summer, and get ready to have fun in the sun!
Eat Less, More Frequently
Your body produces metabolic heat to break down food when you eat, so a larger meal naturally generates the heat in your body. To avoid feeling overheated, opt for smaller, more frequent meals instead of three large meals per day.
Spice it Up!
This may seem counter-intuitive, but spicy foods like chili peppers, salsa and curry dishes actually can cool you down! This is due to the heat receptors in your mouth which get stimulated when you eat spicy foods. The receptors increase your circulation and cause your body to sweat, which cools you off. There’s a reason spicy food is so popular in hot-climate countries like Mexico and India!
Lighten Up
Wearing light-colored clothing helps you to cool down by better reflecting the sun’s radiation. Opt for natural fibers like cotton, which absorbs perspiration and cools you off as the sweat evaporates.
Skip Cocktail Hour
Nothing like a nice frozen margarita to beat the heat, right? Wrong! Alcohol dehydrates your body, which can be especially detrimental in the heat of the day. Stick to water or seltzer to keep your body hydrated while you’re out in the sun.
Slow Down
Strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day should be avoided, as it raises your core temperature. Keep your outdoor exercise limited to the coolest parts of the day, which are usually around sunrise or after dark.
Have any tips for keeping cool? Share them in our Comments section!
