Keep Your Cool this Summer (5 Helpful Tips)

Keep your cool in the summertime heat with these five tips!

Summertime Heat

The mercury is rising, and we're right in the middle of summer now. Summer is a favorite time of year for most, but to be honest, I prefer the crisp coolness of autumn. The heat and I just don't get along! I sunburn easily, I sweat as soon as the temperature rises above 72°F, and I don't function very well when it's hot. Plus, the mosquitos are out in droves in my area, and skeeters tend to love me!

I first wrote this post a few years ago, when the US was in the middle of the hottest month on record in the US since 1895, when NOAA first started keeping records. Ouch! I still follow my own advice on hot summer days. Here are my top tips on how to keep your cool during this steamy season.

5 Ways To Keep Your Cool

1. Eat Cooling Foods. My favorites are cucumber, watermelon, mint, summer squash, leafy lettuce and cilantro. Avoid heavy, spicy greasy foods, which will weight you down and heat you up.
2. Drink plenty of water. This may seem like a no brainer, but sometimes people need to remember to keep hydrated. Add things like berries, cucumbers and mint to your water to make it a little more interesting. Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go to make sure you don’t end up dehydrated.
3. Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. This might seem like another no-brainer, but I’ve seen many people wearing, tight dark clothing during the summer months. Dark colors absorb heat and tight clothing will trap that heat in.
4. Minimize daytime activity. Do things like exercise, walking the dog, and mowing the lawn the early morning and late evening when the air is a little cooler.
5. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Sunburns actually decrease the body’s ability to cool itself. Sun also damages and ages the skin, so sunscreen is extra important. Check the latest EWG sunscreen guide for the safest sunscreens.

I also have a tendency to stay inside when it's really hot out.

What do you do to keep cool?

Some drinks that will help you keep your cool include:

• Lavender Lemonade
• Snickerdoodle Smoothie
• Green Juice
• Mocha Tahini Shake

Raw recipes for the summer include:

• Cauliflower Tabbouleh
• Sushi Wraps
• Raw Vegan Tacos
• Sunflower Seed Tuna Wraps