Beating the Heat of the Summer

By now we are submersed in all of summer’s glory, including the relative heat and humidity.  Those of us living in WNC have already felt an early summer punishing heatwave.  While some nutritional practices are well known for summertime, like increasing fluids, others may not be as intuitive. 

Yes to more fluids, but also electrolyte replenishment!  More activity outdoors in the summer increases sweating and loss of vital electrolytes.  Downing plain water isn’t going to replenish those, so opt for a powdered electrolyte supplement to add into your water or a squeeze of lemon and pinch of sea salt.  Just be mindful to check the electrolyte powder’s label for added sugar.  Coconut water is also a great option. 

Beyond fluids, consuming certain foods can help cool our bodies down.  There are obvious choices like watermelon (it’s 92% water!), and watery fruits like citrus.  Did you know that some lentils have cooling properties as well as leafy vegetables like lettuces, kale, and cabbage?  Cucumber and cilantro are also used in various cultures to temper ‘hotter’ foods.  If you choose to eat spicy peppered meals, you’ll want the addition of a cooling herb like cilantro or mint to offset that extra heat during the summer months. 
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Finally one of my favorite ways to externally cool down the body is with a rosewater spray.  This is a skin tonic that you can find almost anywhere and is budget-friendly.  Mists contain rosewater, which is rose petals steeped in distilled water, then mixed with other cooling ingredients.  I like to use this on my face and neck after cleansing and prior to applying moisturizer, or just random spritzing throughout a hot day!

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