Dear Lifehacker, What should I eat during summer to keep my body cool? In winter you have soup to stay warm: beyond cool drinks, what’s the summer equivalent? I’d like to know how to keep my oven of a body as cool as possible to fight the heat! Thanks, Seasonal Mouth
Ice block picture from Shutterstock
Dear SM,
As we noted in a previous Ask LH post, the key to beating the heat isn’t food, but hydration. When it comes to keeping cool, there really is no substitute for boring ol’ water which has the added benefits of quenching your thirst and keeping you healthy.
Developing a taste for H2O can be tricky for people who prefer soft drinks: these tips explain how you can “train” yourself to enjoy the stuff. Alternatively, try adding mint leaves or orange/lemon slices to a glass or carbonated mineral water.
In terms of food, frozen treats that are primarily made of water are pretty hard to beat. A popular healthy option is to freeze frozen fruit slices, such as oranges, watermelon and pineapple. In addition to keeping you adequately hydrated, the icy temperature will cool you down and refresh your palate.
Another popular healthy option is mint yoghurt — you can read up on how to make your own here. You could also try making your own 30-second watermelon smoothie, as demonstrated in this video.
For something a bit naughtier, this two-ingredient ice cream recipe is a great, simple way to keep the heat at bay. A no-bake fridge cake is another good summer dessert option (in fact, any food that doesn’t require you to switch on a hot oven is a pretty good bet.)
While it sounds counterproductive, indulging in extra-spicy food can also help on hot days. This is because it produces extra sweat, which cools the body as it evaporates.
You can find a stack of additional cooling down tips via out ‘Beat The Heat’ tag — the category covers everything from DIY icy treats to building your own air conditioner. If any readers have their own summer food suggestions, let SM know in the comments section below.
Cheers
Lifehacker
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Comments
6 responses to “Ask LH: What Can I Eat To Keep Cool?”
I’ve been smashing those Quelch Fruit Combo sticks this summer. :S
I believe the correct answer to this question is Zooper Doopers!
Galactic Grape, Deep Space Lime etc.
They’re cool to hold as well. It cools you down as you eat it, and once you’ve finished it!
For the last forty years, I’ve been freezing 600ml Iced Coffee and eating it frozen. Of latter years, I’ve learned that 30 seconds in the microwave for a hard-frozen carton saves a lot of scratching.
Nothing drops your core temperature like half a litre of ice in your belly!
Curry!
Try eating a hot chili in very hot weather to cool you down.