Beat the Heat: Defeat Summer with coolest tips to avoid scorching Sun

Lucknow: The scorching heat, thirsty throat, warmer air, and unbearable Sun... This is what Summer mean to North Indians.

When the season hits hard on our bodies, our moods, and our electric bills and the temperature gets us down, we know that it is the time to take up some quick, cheap but most wanted tips to remain as lively and fresh as we could even if our skin becomes rough and dry due to the warm slaps of the wind.

Here are some quick tips that will help you beat the summer heat and keep cool even if it feels like the sun is out to get you.

In slides ahead: Tips to keep yourself cool...

Drink a lot of water:

• It becomes important to stay hydrated when you’re sweating a lot, either because of exercise or the summer heat, drinking enough water becomes necessary.
• Whenever your body heats up from physical activity or the hot weather outside, your internal air conditioner turns on and you begin to sweat.
• Remember, now that your air conditioner is using its coolant (your sweat), it is important to refill the tank — by drinking lots of H2O.

Keep Your Food Cool and Avoid Using the Oven:

• Summer might be a great time to eat outdoors, but some foods and drinks aren’t that enjoyable when heated by the sun.
• Consider making cold soups, relying on electrical appliances like the versatile rice cooker, or try these “no-cook” or “oven-free” recipe ideas.

Exercise Comfortably, Even in the Heat:

• Do not stop exercising just because it is hot outside.
• You can get used to exercising in the heat and use common sense strategies such as switching to water sports, avoiding the sun when it’s strongest, and exercising in short bursts.
• Precooling techniques can also prevent you from overheating when you work out in hot weather.

Optimize Your Windows:

• Close the windows and use insulated drapes to keep the sun out during the day and open them at night when the sun is down.
• You can also hang a damp towel in front of the window to cool the air flowing into your home and open opposing windows or windows on the top and bottom floors for maximum air flow.

Know Your Body’s Best Cooling Points:

• Know your body’s best cooling points, such as your wrist and neck. By applying a ice cubes wrapped in a towel (or any other cold object) to these pulse points, you’ll cool down more quickly and effectively.

Chill your mattress:

• Put soft gel ice packs on top of the mattress and underneath the sheets; try under your legs, neck, or lower back for maximum comfort.
• Freezing a cotton sock filled with rice, then slipping it between the sheets will help keeping the scorching heat away.

Using Aloe Vera:

• You know Aloe-Vera naturally soothes sunburn, and its cooling properties also work to help you beat the heat.

Take a cool shower:

• When all else fails, take frequent cool showers to keep your body temperature down and rinse off the sweat.

Include salads in your diet:

• Consuming leafy lettuce and summer greens, corn on cob and cucumbers, in salads are delicious ways to stay cool. These foods contain a significant amount of water and can actually thin the blood, which has a cooling effect.
• Onions too are great in the summer, because of their ability to beat the heat and provide relief from summer ailments.

Wear loose, full-sleeved cotton clothes:

• Full sleeved clothes will protect the body from the sun and to aid evaporation of sweat.
• Use a hat to protect your head from the sun you go out.
• Try to be more at home of somewhere indoor to avoid heat strokes and sun tans.