On these continuous hot days, are you struggling to breathe because of the heat? Are you trying to cool off by eating ice and using air conditioning, but still feel uncomfortably hot? Did you know that eating spicy foods can actually help your body cool down? Here are five principles that you must know for a true and thorough refreshing experience!
The first principle to cool off is to ‘not rush’. Cold drinks and cold showers do not necessarily make you feel more comfortable.
Q1: Feeling hot and thirsty, would drinking a glass of cold water instantly cool you down?
Wrong. Drinking room temperature water or even hot water can better relieve heat. Cold water causes the blood vessels to contract rapidly, preventing the heat from escaping; room temperature water can increase body hydration, neutralizing the heat. As it is close to body temperature, the stomach and intestines don’t need to expend extra energy to heat it up, and you will not feel tired; hot water can open pores and cause sweating, preventing the heat from being trapped in the body.
Q2: Can eating spicy foods in summer relieve heat?
Yes. Spicy food can speed up blood circulation, bring internal heat to the skin surface and dissipate it; additionally, as the core body temperature rises, reducing the difference with the external temperature, the brain will feel ‘cooler’.
Q3: Is taking a cold shower a good way to cool off?
Not necessarily. Before taking a cold shower, wipe off the sweat, then slowly pat cold water on your body, allowing your body to adapt to the water temperature before starting the shower. If done right, not only will a cold shower cool you down, but it will also boost your immunity.
Q4: If it’s hot and humid making you feel tired and easily allergic, do you need to use a dehumidifier if you are using an air conditioner?
Not recommended. The most comfortable body feeling is when the indoor temperature is controlled at 25-26℃, and the humidity is around 60. If the humidity is too high, it can easily induce allergies, dizziness, and runny nose. Unless the air conditioner is constantly running at a set temperature, it can remove moisture. Once turned off, the temperature rises, and the humidity will also return.
Q5: Which is most refreshing between ice cream, green leafy vegetables, and cold beer?
Green leafy vegetables. Leafy vegetables are 80-95% water by weight. Foods containing a large amount of water are easy to digest and can quickly pass through the stomach and intestines, so the body temperature does not rise. Ice cream, being high in fat, moves through the digestive system slowly, raising the body temperature; alcohol can cause slight dehydration in the body, expanding the surface blood vessels and making one feel hotter.