Running your air conditioner isn’t the only way to stay cool this summer. There are a lot of strategies for coping with excessive heat. So regardless of whether you don’t have an air conditioner or simply want to avoid running it all day, here are seven tricks to help you beat the summer heat.
Drink Lots of Water
Staying hydrated is the best way to regulate your body temperature, so drink plenty of water throughout the day. The CDC recommends one cup every 15-20 minutes when it’s particularly hot, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid anything with alcohol and caffeine, such as beer, soda, and energy drinks. They’re diuretics, which cause you to expel water rather than store it. If you’re tired of ice water, try mixing it up by infusing your drinks with herbs and fruit. A few popular combinations include:
- Blackberries, oranges, and ginger
- Honeydew, cucumbers, and mint
- Watermelon, kiwi, and lime
- Blueberries, lemon, and rosemary
- Strawberries, lemon, and basil
Place the ingredients in a glass pitcher, fill it with water and ice, then leave it in the fridge for 12-24 hours. Then pour and enjoy!
Keep Skincare Lotion in the Fridge
Putting your lotions, sprays, serums, moisturizers, and facial masks in the refrigerator not only preserves them but provides swift relief from high temperatures. You’ll feel the effects almost immediately as the ointment soaks into your pores, expelling the heat from your face and hands. Heighten the effect with aloe ice cubes. Combine water and aloe vera and freeze the mixture in your ice trays. Then rub the cubes on your face and arms to release a cool, soothing sensation along your skin.
Avoid Heavy Meals
Protein and carbohydrates take a lot of energy to digest, which is why heavy meals make you sweat. Stick to lighter foods from 10 am-6 pm, generally the hottest part of the day. Fruits and vegetables are best. Soups are also a good choice, because of their high water content. For a special treat, stick your fruits in the freezer for a few hours to turn them into a refreshing and delicious snack!
Eat Hot and Spicy Foods
It’s counterintuitive, but eating hot and spicy foods is one of the best ways to stay cool during summer. Chilis and peppers activate heat receptors in your skin and send your natural cooling mechanisms into overdrive. Drinks like tea, hot chocolate, and soups work more directly, by raising your internal body temperature. In either case, the result is the same. You start to sweat more profusely, which helps dispel excess body heat. Just make sure you’re outside or in front of a fan. Sweat only lowers the body’s temperature when there’s a strong breeze to evaporate excess moisture.
Create an Ice Fan
Water absorbs heat as it evaporates, lowering the temperature of ambient air. Ice fans let you harness this principle to stay cool. Place a bowl of ice in front of your fan and let the airflow over it. The ice will absorb the heat, dropping the temperature by as much as 10-15 degrees. You can achieve the same effect by placing a wet towel over the back of your fan. On a hot day, the airflow will cause the water to evaporate and chill the air.
Soak Your Pulse Points
One of the fastest ways to stay cool is to apply ice water to your body’s pulse points ‒ areas where your blood vessels are close to the surface of the skin. These include your neck, elbows, wrists, and ankles. Applying an ice pack or wet towel to them is one of the best ways to lower your body temperature. Soaking your feet in ice water also has the same effect.
Wear Loose, Lightweight Clothing
Tight clothing traps body heat while loose clothing dispels it. Loose shirts and pants let air flow along your skin, which whisks away heat even if you aren’t sweating, an important part of your natural cooling system. Avoid heavy fabrics like wool and flannel and stick to lightweight fabrics such as cotton, chambray, and rayon. Their loose weave allows heat to escape so your body can cool itself in the summer heat.
Save Money This Summer
No matter what they do to stay cool, most people will eventually have to turn their air conditioning on at some point during summer. When that happens, make sure your home is powered and protected by Agway. We not only supply you with affordable energy; we protect your essential systems, such as heating, cooling, and electrical.
Every customer who joins Agway is automatically enrolled in our EnergyGuardTM program, which covers you in the event your furnace, air conditioner, or internal wiring breaks down. Instead of paying for repairs out-of-pocket, our support team steps in and pays for the repairman and all covered parts. There are no service fees or deductibles either. Our low monthly rate is the only expense you have to worry about. So don’t wait. Sign up today!
