(taken from Flickr)I walked around Coconut Grove Farmer's Market on Grand Avenue the other day and encountered a couple who had relayed me a tidbit of their belief that one could stay cool by eating. How? They swore by fruits. I quickly checked online to see if this is really possible.
There's several websites, and I'm making a compilation here, with recommended practices and not so recommended practices.
And remember, everything should be eaten moderately - and you don't have to forgo everything!
Good recommendations:
- High water content foods
- Fruits
- Relatively low sugar content: Rhubarb, Strawberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Grapefruit, Melons, Apricots, Plums, Peaches, Pears, Guava, Cherries, Apples, Papaya
- Low fat foods.
- Low carbs foods.
- Spicy foods encourages perspiration without high temperatures. This partly explains the Caribbean's love for curry.
- Eat small portions, and more frequently. Tapas, anyone?
- Slightly-cooled foods & drinks.
- Cold foods & drinks, however, should be avoided if you're feeling really hot, and if you've been exercising. Cool down first before having cold foods & drinks. Otherwise, get something refreshing at room temperature - it still will cool you down.
- Low sodium.
- Disregard this if you go out often as salt evaporates with sweat; but if you tend to stay indoors most of the time, low sodium (typically salty) foods will help lower blood pressure. This is important to know since high blood pressure has become the second most common reason for medical office visits.
- Low protein.
- Less meat, fish, poultry, and eggs - but you do not have to take them out of the diet completely!
- Vegans and Vegetarians should disregard avoiding proteins - and pay extra attention in avoiding protein deficiency.
- Fruits
- Relatively high sugar content: Grapes, Tangerine, Oranges, Pineapple, Kiwi, Bananas, Dried Fruit, Mango
- A Florida consideration: Orange Juice
- Banning oranges is extreme. But really, one cup of orange juice is enough - any more, you'll be consuming 2 and 1/2 servings worth of fruits. The food pyramid recommends you to eat 2 to 4 servings. Get the orange juice carton with pulp since it has flavonoids.
- Diuretic drinks
- Alcohol make you urinate more often than usual, thus promoting further dehydration.
- Caffeinated and sugary drinks can still promote good hydration, although not as effectively as pure water. It's always better to pick up a cafe cubano or a cortadito than a colada, or a cafe con leche since caffeinated drinks are still diuretic! But it is far better than a huge cup of Starbucks coffee or even a glass of beer
- Do not take a cold shower! It decourages perspiration, thus discouraging your body's natural heat loss system.
- Yoga tip: Roll your tongue into a tube with the tip outside the mouth. Continuing slow deep breath, breath in through the tube and then move your chin to your chest as you breath out through your nose. (Noticed dogs do that)
- Take off your shoes or hat while indoors! Much of the body's heat is released through the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, and the scalp.
- Pick deodorant without an anti-perspirant.
- Install a dehumidifier.
- Dress light and light-colored.
- Don't use so much hair-care products! They thicken hair and allow for less air to circulate your scalp.
- Use an umbrella if you'll like, to stay out of the sun's heat. Useful if you also take public transportation and just have to wait for that bus! But, umbrellas are not only for the rain; and in Miami, it rains sporadically without warning in the summer - so this is a very useful tip either way!
- Plus, it is not recommended to be out in the sun between 10am to 4pm (some sources say 11 am to 3 pm, but you get the hint.) But do enjoy the sun at other times of the day!
- Interesting sun-safety tip for men: use sunblock instead of an aftershave! Works well, especially if it has aloe vera.
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