Beating the Heat
Damn its hot Mum or how to best handle Heat in the Tropics
Thailand is still considered a rather conservative culture when it comes to clothing especially female clothing. OK there are no harsh laws about covering face or hair but if you have some respect for the Thai culture you should consider what and where you are wearing certain clothes.
Personally, I feel it is not appropriate for anyone to be bare chested or in a bikini while in a Bank or supermarket. I wouldn’t do it back home so why should it be acceptable here. I know it’s hot, that’s the main reason we are all here but there are choices you can make which will certainly increase your comfort and help reduce your body heat.
How to lower body heat quickly
You probably know how important it is to hydrate with water when you’re hot. There are lots of other ways to lower your body heat quickly as well. The following home remedies are easy and effective ways to beat the heat.
Play it cool in a hat with a wide brim and sunglasses if you’ll be in direct sunlight. You can even carry a parasol or umbrella.
Wear loose, lightly coloured clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, or silk. Semi-synthetics such as rayon and modal can also be worn to combat body heat. Scientists are developing fabrics created specially to keep you cool, such as thermal regulation fabrics. Products made with these types of fabrics are often designed for sport and outdoor activities.
Cold foot bath
Placing your feet in a cold foot bath cools your body and allows you to sit back and relax. Simply add cold water and ice cubes to a bucket of water. Immerse your feet and soak for up to 20 minutes. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil for an added cooling effect.
Coconut water
Drinking coconut water is a delicious way to refresh and revitalize your body. The vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes in coconut water make it an effective way to rehydrate and reenergize your body when you have heat stress. Coconut water has many other benefits, too.
Peppermint
Peppermint is known for its cooling properties due to its high menthol content, which makes one have the sensation of feeling cooler. You can make a hot or iced peppermint tea and drink it throughout the day. While hot tea may seem to make, you feel hotter, drinking hot drinks may help you to sweat more and help to cool down your body.
Hydrating foods
Eat plenty of foods high in water content. Fruits such as cantaloupe, watermelon, and strawberries are good options.
Try eating lots of vegetables such as celery, cucumber, and cauliflower. You can eat these foods raw in a salad. Alternatively, add a bit of ice to incorporate them into a healthy smoothie since yogurt is also a cooling food.
Aloe Vera
The leaves and inner gel of this healing plant can help to lower body temperature.
You can apply aloe Vera gel to your skin for a cooling effect. Either use the inside gel of a fresh plant or a pure aloe Vera gel. For added benefits, keep it in the refrigerator before application. Aloe Vera can also be consumed internally. Use 2 tablespoons of fresh aloe Vera gel per cup of water to make a drink.
Buttermilk
Drinking buttermilk may help to cool down your body and improve metabolism. It’s also full of probiotics (traditional buttermilk), vitamins, and minerals that will help to restore your body’s natural energy if you’re feeling drained by the heat.
Try drinking a glass of cold buttermilk. Adding honey or yogurt is optional but may make the flavour more to your liking.
Fenugreek Tea
Sipping a cup of fenugreek tea may help to bring on a sweat, allowing you to cool off. If you don’t like the idea of drinking a hot drink, you can make the tea ahead of time and chill it in the refrigerator before drinking it. Fenugreek may also be useful in getting rid of some excess fluid and detoxifying the body.
Chili
Even though eating spicy food can make you feel warm, it can also help to lower your body temperature. That’s because the capsaicin in chilies sends messages to the brain to signal that your body is overheated. This causes you to sweat more than normal and brings on a cooling effect.
These remedies should help to cool you down if you’re feeling the heat. If your body temperature seems to be high for an undetermined reason or you’re not cooling down after trying some of these remedies, see your doctor. This is especially important if:
you have an underlying medical condition
you’re over 65 years of age
you’re pregnant or nursing
it’s occurring in young children or babies
Heat stress has the potential to turn into heat exhaustion or heat stroke if left untreated, so seek help if you or a loved one is having extreme discomfort that doesn’t ease. In addition, learn the signs and symptoms of heat emergencies.
