When the heat of summer hits, it’s important to stay cool. Not only does sweating off a full face of makeup or staining your cute white t-shirt with perspiration make you look like a mess, but summer weather can pose a threat to your health. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real medical problems that arise when your body’s core temperature rises too high. Both can cause confusion, fainting and worse, so keeping cool this season applies to both your health and your summer style. Keeping yourself comfortable this summer is easy with these nine tips. From wearing the right clothes like loose-fitting boho dresses to eating water-rich foods, these tips can help you stay as cool as a cucumber.Drink Water
The number one tip for staying cool in the summer is to drink water. Water keeps you hydrated, which is essential for keeping your body at the right temperature. Your body uses sweat to cool itself to maintain its core temperature. Your body must have enough water to produce sweat. If you don’t drink enough water, you may become dehydrated. This is dangerous as it can lead to heat emergencies. It is vital to drink plenty of liquids so your body can keep you cool. Although any liquid is better than no liquid, you should avoid alcohol and caffeine because they can dehydrate your body.
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Eat Water-Rich Foods
While drinking water is essential, you can also boost your hydration by eating foods with a high water content. Cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce are ideal and make a delicious summer salad. Celery is excellent for hydration, and so are zucchini, kale and spinach. Fruits like watermelon, honeydew, oranges, pineapple, cantaloupe, peaches and strawberries are also great choices. You can make a smoothie with a mixture of these options if you get tired of chugging water.
Flip on the Fan
To stay cool, one of the best things you can do is to keep your living space well-ventilated. Moving air helps to cool your body down, as it hits your skin and evaporates sweat. If you have a ceiling fan, turn it on counterclockwise so that cool air is pushed down into the room. Invest in a box or floor fan that you can oscillate to move the air around your space, or buy a battery-powered handheld fan that you can point directly on your face and neck.
Grab the Ice
There are several ways to keep cool using ice. First, get a bowl of ice and set it directly in front of your fan. The ice chills the air immediately surrounding it, and the air will pick up the coolness and circulate it around the room. Use ice packs to cool your neck, wrists or elbows for immediate heat relief, and consider sleeping with a few ice packs wrapped in tea towels to cool your body down at night.
Stay Shady Lady
Another way to beat the heat is to stay in the shade. It is tempting to go out and enjoy the warm summer weather, but spending too much time in the sun exposes you to harmful UV rays and can lead to heat cramps or heat exhaustion. It is best to stay indoors in a dim room. Pull the curtains closed and kick back in the darkness. If you have to be outside, get under the shade of a whimsical beach umbrella, canopy or tree. Keep your face shady with a summer straw hat to avoid sunburn on your cheeks.
Avoid the Kitchen
Even if you love to cook, it’s a good idea to stay out of the kitchen on the hottest days of summer. Using the oven to bake a cake or cook chicken uses energy and adds heat to your home, especially if you live in a small space like an apartment. Cooking on the stovetop also increases your home’s temperature. When you are standing right above the burners, it’s easy to become a sweaty mess. Stick to foods you can heat in the microwave or, better yet, buy a few salads or cheese and nut trays that you can eat straight from the refrigerator.
Wear Flowy Fashion
One of the best ways to keep your body temperature down in the summer is to wear loose, light-colored clothing. This allows your body to sweat just enough to dampen your skin while also allowing airflow to reach the sweat to cool you down. Cute flowy jumpsuits with wide, flowing sleeves are the perfect outfit for summer because they are comfortable and relaxed. Another great option is women’s loungewear sets in solid, lighter colors. The relaxed fit ensures that your skin can breathe in the heat.
Go Shopping
One creative way that you can stay cool despite the hot weather is to go shopping. Head to a well-air-conditioned shopping mall, department store or even bookstore. Most commercial retailers set their thermostats low in the summer to keep their customers cool. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, you can spend a few hours window shopping while you enjoy the cold air. You can also spend a few dollars on a fruit drink, tea or smoothie at your local cafe and sit for hours on your laptop or reading a book.
Refrigerate Everything!
To keep cool at night, put a gel eye mask in the fridge during the day and use it on your face as you drift off to sleep. Keep your facial moisturizer or eye creams in the fridge to boost their hydrating power in the mornings. Put your pillowcase and sheets in a Ziploc bag in the fridge about half an hour before you go to bed for an extra-relaxing, cooling effect for hot summer nights.
Keep Yourself Cool This Summer
Staying cool despite the summer heat is easy with these nine easy tips. Make sure to wear loose clothing, drink lots of water, stay in the shade and use fans and ice to help your body lower its temperature. Take advantage of free air conditioning in public areas, and try not to turn on your oven or stove when the temperature rises outside. Implement these tips into your summer routine to beat the heat and stay cool.
