How to lower your body heat?

Hyperthermia is when the body's temperature is unhealthily high. Hyperthermia may be caused due to exposure to the sun and extremely hot weather. You are more prone to hyperthermia if you are dehydrated.

As the temperature this summer is rising to unbearable levels, it is important to know how we can protect ourselves from it. We must take preventive measures to avoid the adverse effects of these heatwaves. In this article, we discuss foods that help cool down our body temperature.

Top 12 foods that help reduce body temperature:

Water

The best way to maintain the correct body temperature is to hydrate regularly. Drinking 2.7 to 3.7 litres of water daily is necessary to keep the body cool.

Watermelon

Watermelon is one of the highest water content food, made up of approximately 90% water. It is also rich in antioxidants that keep the body cool.

Onions

Onions not only cool down the body but also protect the body from sunstrokes. It is also a superfood that will protect you from various diseases active in summer.

Cucumbers

Similar to watermelon, cucumber is one of the highest water content vegetables. It is also rich in fibre which helps with constipation that might occur due to the hot weather.

Curd

Curd is one of the best dairy products to add to your diet this summer. Most high-protein foods are meats and poultry which might increase body heat. Curd on the other hand is high in protein and also cools down the body heat.

Coconut Water

Coconut water is a great way to increase your water intake if you find drinking water boring. It is also rich in various vitamins and minerals which help protect the body from diseases in summer.

Mint Leaves

Mint leaves are just as refreshing as they are cooling to the body. They work great if you want to enhance the flavour of your fruit juices, lemonades, ice teas, and other summer beverages.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is another plant packed with water. Aloe Vera helps cool down the body if consumed regularly. In addition to this, it also has anti-inflammatory properties and might be beneficial if applied to the skin directly.

Green Leafy Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables, also known as green leafy vegetables include spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage, and so on. These vegetables have a very high water content and are packed with nutrients.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk, similar to curd is one of the very few protein-rich foods that cool down the body. It is also a refreshing beverage and also provides relief from gut issues that may be triggered due to the weather.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are a great source of hydration and vitamin C, both of which work as a shield against hot weather. Some of the popularly available citrus fruits are oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and so on.

Avocado

Avocados are a great addition to your diet as they are rich in healthy fats. Unlike other fatty foods that might dehydrate the body, avocados are hydrating and the fats help the body absorb other vitamins better.

A brain region called the hypothalamus is responsible for regulating body temperature. It checks the body’s current temperature against its normal temperature and then regulates it.

When the body is too hot, regulation occurs through sweating to cool it down. When it is too cold, the hypothalamus triggers shivering to warm it up.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, eating spicy foods and engaging in activities that cause the body to sweat could make it feel cooler compared to the outside temperature. This is because sweating reduces body temperature.

Below are eight tips for reducing body heat:

Drinking cool liquids like water or iced tea can help reduce body temperature by cooling the body internally. The regular intake of fluids can also prevent dehydration, which can increase body heat.

People can reduce their body temperature by moving to an area with a cooler external temperature. The body will lose heat by convection.

Swimming in cool water, taking a lukewarm bath, or applying cold water to the body can reduce body temperature. In these cases, body temperature will decrease as a result of conduction.

Applying cold water or ice to strategic points on the body where the veins are close to the surface — such as the wrists, neck, chest, and temples — can quickly lower the temperature of the blood running through these veins. This allows the body to feel cooler.

The body releases heat when it moves. In hot temperatures, a person is likely to feel less hot if they avoid heavy exercise and limit their movement.

Heat passes more easily through some fabrics than others. Natural fabrics, such as cotton and linen, allow heat to escape from the body more easily than synthetic fabrics, such as acrylic and nylon.

Depending on the cause of high body temperature, taking a supplement may help regulate body heat.

A 2018 study that compared plant extracts found that evening primrose oil and black cohosh effectively reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes in people going through perimenopause or menopause.

Black cohosh also reduced the frequency of hot flashes.

Learn more about taking black cohosh during menopause here.

• Drink cool liquids.
• Go somewhere with cooler air.
• Get in cool water.
• Apply cold to key points on the body.
• Move less.
• Wear lighter, more breathable clothing.
• Take heat regulating supplements.
• Talk to a doctor about thyroid health.