Do you want to know how to stay cool in this hot summer? We have got the experts talking on how you can arm yourself with some of these very useful tips and tricks to brave the heat...
Fitness: A hot workout
- Avoid dark colours while working out as they absorb heat. Wear apparel that’s breathable. Give track pants a miss, wear shorts instead.
- While gymming, your feet sweat, so avoid wearing synthetic socks. Powder the feet with a prickly heat powder and ensure you dry your shoes after a session of exercise.
- Have a glass of water before you start as it takes time for fluids to get absorbed into the system. Ideally, you need 100 ml of water every 20 minutes of exercise.
- 21-22 degree celcius is the ideal body temperature at which you should exercise.
- Best time to get your body moving is before 8 am or just after sunset. Never exercise mid-morning when you experience the maximum effect of the sun’s UV rays.
- If you are working out outdoors, try and pace the intensity. For example, if 20 minutes of cardio burns 400 calories, space it out to over 30 or more minutes and do not do it intensely.
Health: grasp ailments
- Headaches and migraines get precipitated by heat. Avoid walking in the sun or wear a hat. Avoid fermented foods and citrus fruits.
- Those who don’t sweat a lot are prone to heat-related exhaustion - manifested in fatigue, light-headedness, etc. At an extreme level, it leads to a heat stroke or you may be paralysed or unconscious.
- Skin allergies like psoriasis too get aggravated because of dehydration.
- The body is composed of 60-65 per cent water, distributed 2/3rd in the cells and 1/3rd outside them. When the body is dehydrated, the organs complain through aches and pains. At its worst, dehydration can lead to renal failure and unconsciousness.
- Excess sun causes nose bleeds because of excess pressure of heat on the nostrils. Boils and sun burn are also common. The best way to counter them is drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and smoking.
Food: Eat cool
- Take electrol twice a day. Mix it with coconut water, khus sharbat or lemonade. This will replenish minerals lost due to excessive sweating.
- Have more succulent veggies that rehydrate - bottle gourd, turai, pumpkin, lotus stem and the like.
- Use spices in moderation. If possible avoid jaiphal, cinnamon, cloves as they generate heat.
- Have poha, porridge, fruits or idli for breakfast instead of dosas and parathas. Khichdi with multi-grain dal, chaas and green chutney.
Clothing: Drape right
- The obvious choice of fabric for summer has to be natural ones such as cotton, linen and its derivatives such as mul, voile, or bamboo fabric.
- For the evening, wear mixed fabrics - 60 per cent cotton and 40 per cent silk - for comfort and sheen.
Beauty: keep it fresh
- Kokum sharbat is the best way to beat prickly heat from the inside.
- To remove a tan, powder masoor dal and soak it in milk for an hour or half. Massage it over your body and let dry. Rub it off in circular motions. Put papaya pieces through a mixer and massage the pulp into your hair, section wise. Rinse after two hours to get shiny, smooth hair.
- After eating a mango, massage your face with the seed for 10 minutes. The pulp will tighten, clean and moisturise your skin. Wash after 15-20 minutes.
Fitness: A hot workout
- Avoid dark colours while working out as they absorb heat. Wear apparel that’s breathable. Give track pants a miss, wear shorts instead.
- While gymming, your feet sweat, so avoid wearing synthetic socks. Powder the feet with a prickly heat powder and ensure you dry your shoes after a session of exercise.
- Have a glass of water before you start as it takes time for fluids to get absorbed into the system. Ideally, you need 100 ml of water every 20 minutes of exercise.
- 21-22 degree celcius is the ideal body temperature at which you should exercise.
- Best time to get your body moving is before 8 am or just after sunset. Never exercise mid-morning when you experience the maximum effect of the sun’s UV rays.
- If you are working out outdoors, try and pace the intensity. For example, if 20 minutes of cardio burns 400 calories, space it out to over 30 or more minutes and do not do it intensely.
Health: grasp ailments
- Headaches and migraines get precipitated by heat. Avoid walking in the sun or wear a hat. Avoid fermented foods and citrus fruits.
- Those who don’t sweat a lot are prone to heat-related exhaustion - manifested in fatigue, light-headedness, etc. At an extreme level, it leads to a heat stroke or you may be paralysed or unconscious.
- Skin allergies like psoriasis too get aggravated because of dehydration.
- The body is composed of 60-65 per cent water, distributed 2/3rd in the cells and 1/3rd outside them. When the body is dehydrated, the organs complain through aches and pains. At its worst, dehydration can lead to renal failure and unconsciousness.
- Excess sun causes nose bleeds because of excess pressure of heat on the nostrils. Boils and sun burn are also common. The best way to counter them is drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and smoking.
Food: Eat cool
- Take electrol twice a day. Mix it with coconut water, khus sharbat or lemonade. This will replenish minerals lost due to excessive sweating.
- Have more succulent veggies that rehydrate - bottle gourd, turai, pumpkin, lotus stem and the like.
- Use spices in moderation. If possible avoid jaiphal, cinnamon, cloves as they generate heat.
- Have poha, porridge, fruits or idli for breakfast instead of dosas and parathas. Khichdi with multi-grain dal, chaas and green chutney.
Clothing: Drape right
- The obvious choice of fabric for summer has to be natural ones such as cotton, linen and its derivatives such as mul, voile, or bamboo fabric.
- For the evening, wear mixed fabrics - 60 per cent cotton and 40 per cent silk - for comfort and sheen.
Beauty: keep it fresh
- Kokum sharbat is the best way to beat prickly heat from the inside.
- To remove a tan, powder masoor dal and soak it in milk for an hour or half. Massage it over your body and let dry. Rub it off in circular motions. Put papaya pieces through a mixer and massage the pulp into your hair, section wise. Rinse after two hours to get shiny, smooth hair.
- After eating a mango, massage your face with the seed for 10 minutes. The pulp will tighten, clean and moisturise your skin. Wash after 15-20 minutes.
