It's hot outside and inside, too. Extreme heat has blanketed many parts of the country. There are plenty of ways to stay cool in the summer.
Here are some tips for staying cool in the summer.
Stay hydrated
On average, an adult can lose up to half or one litre of sweat every day, but in hot environments this can increase to almost a litre and a half an hour. As you lose water to dehydration, your body temperature rises, so replacing fluids is essential to keeping cool.
The best and healthiest way to stay hydrated is by drinking plain water. Keep a few bottles of water in the freezer, it not keep you hydrated but also makes your body easier to maintain a lower core temperature. Avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine, or lots of sugar, which are dehydrating.
Opt for fruits and veggies
Salads are easier to digest than rice and curry, which leaves you feeling sluggish in the high heat. Try a smoothie for lunch, and add more fruits and vegetables to all your meals. Watermelon and cucumber have the greatest water contents of any food out there.
Wear lightweight and light colored clothing
Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing lets your skin breathe. Dark colors absorb heat, so stick with lighter shades. Wear loose t-shirts, shorts and dresses made out of cotton or linen. They'll feel much airier than tight, denim clothes.
Cover your windows with kitchen foil
One of the big ways heat can get into your home is through the windows. So cover your windows with something reflective, like plain old aluminum foil that you have in the kitchen.
The reflective properties of the foil stops the transfer of radiant heat and keeps it out of your house. This should make staying inside on a hot day a lot more bearable, especially if you have no A/C.
Drink hot drinks and soup
When you ingest a hot drink, you actually have a disproportionate increase in the amount that you sweat. The hot drink is hotter than your body temperature, but the amount that you increase your sweating by more than compensates for the added heat to the body from the fluid. This helps to cool down the body.
Know where to apply cold water and ice
Applying ice and cold water to your body will make you feel cooler. Apply cold water to your wrists. Your wrists are pulse points and, as such, heat radiates from them. Running cold water over them before getting into bed will reduce the impact of the heat that your wrists produce. While elephants wet their ears first by blasting water from their trunks, humans should begin with their wrists to quickly cool down the blood flowing through their veins.
Your wrists (the underside, where you can see the veins), elbows and joint creases are great places to start. Other effective areas are your temples (the sides of your head, about halfway between the corners of your eye and your ears) and your forehead. Soaking your feet in some ice-cold water will also help cool you down.
Spray yourself with cold water
One of the easiest ways to cool off in the heat: Spritz yourself. Stash a spray bottle in the refrigerator, and when the going gets hot, give yourself a good misting. It's all about thermal regulation. As the water evaporates, it cools you.
Eat spicy foods
As people who live in scorching climates, such as those of Mexico and India, know well, eating hot stuff can cool you down. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, a chemical compound that helps us to perspire more readily. When this sweat evaporates, you experience some cool relief.
