Sizzling summer’s
the time when you sweat down with pricking heat and hot SCORCHING sun right over your head turning you out like a melting
ice; though hot one! The topmost priority here is to keep your home and
yourself cool.
Air-conditioning is the silver bullet for summer heat, but energy costs make
many people reluctant to turn it on, says the CDC, and poorly maintained
systems can worsen allergies. During April – June summer is in full swing and for much of the nation that
means extreme heat and humidity that can make it difficult to spend time
outdoors.
Keeping cool when
temperatures reach record highs isn't just about comfort. Dangerously high
temperatures can result in heat-related illnesses ranging from heat cramps
to heat exhaustion
and heat stroke.
The following
tips can help you keep cool all summer long.
1. Alter your
pattern of outdoor exercise
to take advantage of cooler times (early morning or late evening). If you can't
change the time of your workout, scale it down by doing fewer minutes, walking
instead or running,
or decreasing your level of exertion.
2. Wear
loose-fitting clothing, preferably of a light color.
3. Cotton clothing
will keep you cooler than many synthetics.
4. Fill a spray
bottle with water and keep it in the refrigerator for a quick refreshing spray
to your face after being outdoors.
5. Fans can help
circulate air and make you feel cooler even in an air-conditioned house.
6. Try storing
lotions or cosmetic toners in the refrigerator to use on hot, overtired feet.
7. Keep plastic bottles
of water in the freezer; grab one when you're ready to go outside. As the ice
melts, you'll have a supply of cold water with you.
8. Take frequent baths
or showers with cool or tepid water.
9. Combat dehydration
by drinking plenty of water along with sports drinks or other sources of electrolytes.
10. Some people swear
by small, portable, battery-powered fans. At an outdoor event I even saw a
version that attaches to a water bottle that sprays a cooling mist.
12. Instead of hot
foods, try lighter summer fare including frequent small meals or snacks
containing cold fruit or low fat dairy products. As an added benefit, you won't
have to cook next to a hot stove.
If
you want to beat the heat skip on ice cream and choose these options to keep
you cool and healthy.
One (obvious but effective) way to stay cool is to eat fruits and vegetables with high water content. These include leafy lettuces, corn on the cob, cucumbers, watermelon, and summer squash. They all serve to cool down your body from within while providing you with the daily quota of nutrition.
All contain a significant amount of water that can thin the blood and help your body to release heat. Alternatively (and perhaps counter-intuitively), you might try adding more spice to your diet to help cool your body through sweating. Hot peppers, fresh ginger, horseradish, and black pepper should all do the trick. As for preparation, try to focus on fast cooking methods like steaming and quick sautés as opposed to more heat intensive ones. (Baking something for an hour in the oven most certainly will not cool you down.)
ü Beer
& Ice cream: - Gerard E. Mullin, the director of
gastroenterology at Johns Hopkins Hospital, who says that "anything
ingested that is lower than actual body temperature will initially produce a
cooling effect systemically." But after 15-20 minutes, the opposite holds
true. So sadly, try avoiding ice creams and beer which are cooling for your
body but not on a long run.
ü Fish:
- For those who feel empty without their regular
quota of meat, there is a tasty alternative available in fish. Fish are not
only are cooler on consumption as compared to the red meat or chicken that
would have been the preferred fare otherwise, but also have high amounts of
fatty acids such as Omega -3 and Omega - 6 which are found in very few other
food items such as eggs and some other vegetables.
ü Amla:- Not only is amla a
great refresher, it also reverses the ageing effects of the strong Indian sun
and give you added stamina for gym sessions.It strengthens the heart, hair
and different glands in the body, as well and can be drunk at any time of the
day.
ü Apricots:- If you're prone to
skin breakouts or acne in the summer, apricot's can really help you. They
provide the body with iron, vitamin C, potassium and fibre a handful to the gym
and enjoy them as a great pre- or post-workout snack.
ü Buttermilk:- Buttermilk is one
of the healthiest bracers in hot summer months as it is the residue left behind
after the fat in milk has been churned to produce butter. Glug a glass a day to
avoid dehydration and avoid digestion issues
ü Fennel seeds:- Make use of fennel seeds i.e Saunf. Bring water
to boil and add saunf. Let it steep for some time. Cool, strain the water and
refrigerate it.Have a cooling and soothing summer drink.
ü Cucumbers-
At 95 percent water content, a cup of cucumber slices is
nearly as thirst-quenching as a glass of water. Cucumbers also provide a little
fiber and some vitamin C (about 6 percent of the Daily Value per cup). Don’t
limit your cucumber consumption to tossing slices into green salads; get
inspired to make refreshing cucumber recipes: dips, soups and—yes!—pickles.
ü Watermelon:- Ninety-two
percent water (hence the name), watermelon is a good source of vitamin C and,
when it’s red (some are orange or yellow), also has lycopene, an antioxidant
that may help protect against heart disease and some types of cancer. Enjoy
fresh wedges (go ahead and see how far you can spit the seeds) or, better yet,
get creative with watermelon recipes.
So stay healthy by
eating smart and keep your cool!!!
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