5 Foods to Keep You Cool During Hot Weather
A big scoop of ice cream may sound great when you’re battling summer’s scorching temperatures, but it’s only a quick fix that will you leave hotter than before. Once your body starts digesting and storing those calories, your temperature will rise.
However, there are foods available that can actually help you beat the heat by triggering cool-off nerves, causing you to sweat, providing essential fluids and more.
5 Foods to Keep You Cool:
- Mint. By triggering the cold-sensitive nerves in your mouth, mint works wonders to cool you off – especially when it’s eaten fresh, and it doubles as a digestive aid.
- Chile peppers. In hot-climate countries such as India and Thailand, spicy foods are a mainstay. Why? Because one of the chemicals found in them, capsaicin, triggers a reaction in your body that makes you sweat, a process that helps your body regulate its temperature.
- Water-rich vegetables. It’s a well-known fact that veggies are good for you, but in the dog days of summer, certain types are even better than others. Water-rich vegetables such as cucumbers, radishes, and leafy greens, are a sneaky source of hydration, a crucial thing for your body since you can’t cool off by sweating unless you are properly hydrated.
- Fruits. Naturally sweet and refreshing, the fruit is a welcome – and easy – swap for sugar-laden frozen treats when temps run high. The key to cooling off is choosing juicy fruits that have high water content, such as apples, melon, and watermelon.
- Chickpeas. You might be tempted to be at the beck and call of the grill during the summer months, but beware: Meat takes a lot of work to digest. Consuming it stokes the fires of your stomach and, as a result, your body heats up. If you want to keep your cool, opt for a protein that’s less taxing on your stomach like chickpeas. These legumes are also chock-full of fiber and vitamins.
Remember to drink plenty of hydrating fluids and moderate your body temperature. If you’re experiencing dehydration symptoms, contact a Baptist Health healthcare provider.
