Staying cool in the heat

Staying cool in the summer can be a challenge. And overheating can not only be an uncomfortable experience but it can lead to health problems.  

What to wear 

Allow your skin to breathe. Wear clothing that allows air to move through it. Wear breathable clothing fabric that is not restricting and more loose fitting. Breathable fabrics such as cotton, modal, linen, rayon, viscose, bamboo fabric, and silk are all recommended. When possible, stay away from clothing that doesn’t let the skin breathe such as denim, polyester, nylon, spandex, leather and satin. If you are experiencing skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis it is important to wear breathable fabrics, tight heat trapping fabrics can worsen these conditions.  

Skin Hydration 

It’s important to keep your skin moisturized in the heat to prevent it from drying out. However, thick creams that don’t let your skin breathe can trap heat worsening skin conditions mentioned above and increase the amount of oils your skin naturally produces. These thick creams can lead to clogged pores and contribute to acne. Instead moisturize your skin with thinner and breathable moisturizers such as aloe and lighter oils for moisturizing such as jojoba oil, aragon oil and camellia oleifera oil.  

As an added bonus aloe has a cooling effect on the skin and can cool down the body if you place it on places like your back, abdomen, face, chest, and inside of your wrists.  

What to Drink 

During the hotter months get into the habit of drinking fluids that will hydrate you. Fluids that have electrolytes in them such as sodium, magnesium and potassium help replenish your body after sweating or a day in the heat. 

Reduce coffee intake as it’s a drink that can cause heat in the body, even iced coffee only cools down the body temporarily and then the nature of the coffee bean can warm you up.  

Drink cooling teas such as green tea, spearmint, peppermint and Crysanthemum. 

Adding lemon or other sour fruits in water helps to astringe fluids and hydrate your mouth to get rid of dry mouth and that urge to “quench your thirst” when drinking. 

Limit cold and frozen drinks with alcohol. Who doesn’t love a margarita or a frozen pina colada on a hot summer day. Although these drinks taste cool initially they will heat the body up in the long run. Leaving you feeling hotter and damaging your digestive energy as you take them in. 

What to Eat 

Stay away from heat producing foods, that are hard to digest and heavy meals. Such as fried food, heavy stews, sugary foods and high dairy content can be cloying to the digestive tract and add heat into the system. 

Whenever you are looking at changing your diet and lifestyle, start slow and see how these recommendations feel for your body.