It’s hard to stay cool during a heat wave, especially if you don’t have air conditioning. Even with the air conditioning on, the heat affects us and can actually be dangerous if you don’t stay properly hydrated. Here are some unusual tricks that will keep you fresh and cheerful all summer long.
1. Sleep under a slightly damp sheet or towel
It also works if you go to bed with a damp t-shirt. The evaporation of water from the cloth keeps you cool, especially if you have a fan that can also run all night. When the skin comes into contact with cold, especially in areas with a high concentration of blood vessels near the skin, it helps transfer heat away from the body.
2. Place a container of ice in front of your fan.
This DIY air conditioning trick can save you hundreds on your electric bill and is good to know in case your air conditioner ever breaks down. Simply throw ice cubes into a metal container (or freeze water directly in it) and place it in front of a fan running on high heat. Try tilting the container or fan so that air blows directly over the frozen surface, making the air blow out even colder.
3. Eat spicy foods
This doesn’t seem sensible, but surprisingly, hot foods like jalapeno, habanero, and cayenne pepper have a specific type of spiciness that comes from a chemical called capsaicin. While capsaicin is an irritant in humans that makes us sweat, this sweating mechanism actually cools us down. When you don’t sweat in the heat, that’s when you’re in serious trouble.
4. Reduce the intake of proteins and salty foods.
Both of these things create metabolic heat when digested and end up reducing the body’s water content. To remedy this, eat more vegetables and fruits throughout the day and eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.
5. Create an ice pack with a hat.
Sure, this may make you look like a crazy person if you walk around doing your errands this way, but for a quick fix to the sweltering heat, put a cold compress on your head. It may also reduce the chance of getting a heat headache. You can also throw some damp kitchen towels in the freezer and roll them into a C shape that you can place around your head or neck.
