Beat the Heat This Summer

Summer has finally arrived! During school, summer was probably the most-awaited season, since it coincided with the start of the long vacation. 

Though summer is the season of outdoor fun, barbecues, and sunshine, it can also be the season of sunburns and stifling heat. 

Tips for protecting yourself from the extreme summer heat:

• Hydrate your body. During the hot summer months, heat and sweat can leave your body dehydrated. A lack of water is harmful to your body and can also make you crave food when you’re not actually hungry. It is incredibly important to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Wear loose, full-sleeved cotton and light color clothes to protect the body from the sun and to aid evaporation of sweat.
• Use a hat/ Cap to protect your head from the sun you go out.
• Wear sunglasses. They prevent harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from scorching your corneas and protect your eyes for many more summers to come.
• Apply sunscreen daily every 3 hourly. Nothing knocks good days off a summer calendar like nasty sunburn. Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas.
• Just like sunscreen protects the rest of your skin, a lip balm with SPF protection blocks out the sun and keeps in moisture for your lips.
• During the heat try to rest often in shady areas.
• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day. 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.
• Remember to rehydrate after daily exercise.
• If you live in an area with dry weather, try putting a little moisture in the air by soaking a towel and hanging it in front of an open window. Open all the windows on the same floor to start a draft that will carry moisture in and cool you.
• Drink lots of liquids like coconut water, lime water,buttermilk etc to replace the fluids you lose from sweating. Do not wait until you feel like you need a drink.
• Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing,preferably of a light color.
• You can cover your head with scarfs, stoles or dupattas. This is also a good option but make sure that the scarf or stole is of a light material like cotton. This will prevent the heat from directly reaching your head. It will also protect you from the hot loo.
• Stay indoors in air conditioning as much as possible. If no air conditioning then Use a fan.
• Take a cool shower or bath.
• Keep tissues and wet wipes with you all the time so as to wipe out the sweat at regular intervals.
• Instead of hot foods, try lighter summer fare including frequent small meals or snacks containing cold fruit or low fat dairy products like yogurts.
• Include salads in your diet. Consuming leafy lettuce and summer greens, cucumbers, in salads are delicious ways to stay cool.
• Include fruits & vegetables like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew-melon as well as citrus fruits like oranges, cucumber, radishes, lettuce and leafy greens such as spinach and arugula, and fresh herbs such as mint, etc.
• Avoid heavy, oily, and spicy foods as much as you can because these foods take a longer time to digest.
• Don’t smoke.
• Avoid eating fried,processed, and sugary and junk food.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated drinks.