How is this summer shaping up for you? Bad Bunny-inspired dance lessons? All Beyoncé?
No matter what, summer weather has probably brought some brutally hot days (and maybe an unexpected streak of showers).
The rise of extreme heat doesn’t only mean environmental damage — it also poses serious risks to your own health. As eye-popping temperatures become the norm, doing what you can to protect yourself from illnesses such as heatstroke and heat exhaustion is becoming all the more important.
Thankfully, there are lots of ways to beat the heat. Here are a few tricks to try out, especially as summer weather intensifies.
Find the right beverage
Staying hydrated is the single best defense against any heat-related health issues.
But did you know that too much caffeine, alcohol, and sugar in your cup can dehydrate you? Sorry, iced coffee lovers. But don’t fret, the powerhouse beverage of summer gatherings can still safely quench your thirst.
That’s right — iced tea. Nothing beats water for staying hydrated, but green, black, and herbal teas are not far behind. Adding ice during a heat wave is a true chef’s kiss, a concept that was first popularized during the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Many early recipes were alcoholic, but the 0.0% version took off during Prohibition years.
Ever since, people have enjoyed the beverage sweetened, unsweetened, fruity, tangy, and everything in between. However, no place has made iced tea its own like the South. The drink, specifically sweet tea, is a staple in the region with family recipes dating back generations.
June happens to be Iced Tea Month, if you needed any more of a reason to take a dip during summer weather. Check out this easy recipe from Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot website. You can make it at home, and yes, there is a secret ingredient.
Hack your home
How you steer your home during the hottest months of the year can also make or break your summer sweat. This is especially true in dense cities, which trap immense amounts of heat from the summer weather.
If you get a lot of direct sunlight, draw curtains during peak daylight hours. Once it cools off in the evening, open things back up and circulate the air with some fans. This process can help keep the temperature inside nice and regulated.
Do the same thing with your body: take cool showers, wear breathable and lightly colored clothes, and if you have air conditioning, keep the room it’s in closed up to maximize cooling.
Another common tip is to wet a washcloth and put it in the freezer for a few minutes. Then, place it over your neck, forehead, eyes, or face and breathe a sigh of relief.
Stay in the shade
A successful summer often means getting outside and enjoying a beach, a park, or a block party. Green, breezy spaces are often much cooler than stuffy rooms, even during summer weather. Yet intensely hot days can easily spoil the fun.
Keep your cool while you’re out and about by finding shade where you can, resting often, and carrying a water bottle. Public areas like libraries are usually easy places to cool off for a while, and they are often free. A good hat can be another lifesaver, and don’t forget sunscreen.
One more pro tip: if you start to sweat, try to not wipe too much. Sweating is your body’s natural way of staying in balance through evaporative cooling. If you wipe it all off, then you’ll start making more of it, which can dehydrate you.
What are your favorite summertime hacks? Let us know on social media or send a note to editor@url-media.com.
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