We know that the heat of July can get to be a little too much sometimes. For those of us with air conditioners, we put it on blast and say a prayer for our utility bill. For those of us without, we get used to the endless whir of box fans in the background of our lives.
Whatever your situation is, there are ways for anyone to keep a little cooler when the Summer weather hits. Here are some of our favorite ideas:
Hydration is the name of the game
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty for a drink! Sweating is the body’s mechanism for self-cooling, but you need a lot of water to do it. Eating food that’s high in water content like watermelon or grapes also helps. Water makes it easier for your body to function while you’re sweating it out in the heat.
Pay attention to what you’re eating and drinking
Diet can have a big effect on how you handle the heat. Eat less salty foods and protein, which produce metabolic heat and encourage water loss. While imbibing libations doesn’t hurt every now and then, alcoholic beverages are dehydrating and leave you feeling warmer — the same goes for sugary drinks. Water will always be your best friend on hot days and you can infuse it with a bit of fruit of your liking for a little bit of flavor.
If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen
Stovetop heat can cause your kitchen to get way too hot. Try making recipes that require heating less food (you can even use a microwave or a toaster to try getting things warm you might otherwise you a burner for). Check out some ideas here.
Stay indoors during peak hours
Become a green thumb
Indoor plants like ficus trees or fiddle leaf figs are popular for blocking out sunlight for overly sunny windows. When these plants release moisture into the air from their leaves, they can reduce the temperature by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit!
