HOW TO REDUCE YOUR BODY HEAT DURING SUMMER?

By Aeman Fatima Nishat / Hyderabad

With the temperatures in summer soaring, most of us make a rush to buy coolers and air conditioners to regulate the temperatures in our houses to help us live through the summers comfortably. But, we forget the fact that just regulating our external environment isn’t enough. We also need to take care of our internal environment and take steps to manage our body heat so that the body can function well.

The normal body temperature of a human body is 98.6 degrees. A steep spike or sharp decline or any imbalance in this body temperature can lead to damage of the internal organs and can dangerously affect the functioning of the body as a whole. During summer, it is important that we balance the body heat and prevent it from rising beyond the permitted level.


Symptoms
The body reacts and signals out in many ways to indicate high body heat. Here are a few signs:

• Weakness and lethargy
• Disturbed sleep
• Stomach ulcers
• Acidity and heartburn
• Headaches
• Excessive perspiration
• Burning sensation in the eyes
• Remedies

A good diet which includes lots of green vegetables and water can bring down the body heat considerably. You can try a few of these remedies, which are easy to follow, in case you have been experiencing any or all of the symptoms of excess body heat.

• If you are into the habit of smoking or drinking, quit immediately as these cause the body heat to rise considerably.
• Avoid hot, spicy, oily or fried foods and add more vegetables to your meals. You can also try drinking a glass of vegetable or fruit juice every morning.
• Drink lots of water and other liquids that have a cooling effect on the body such as buttermilk, fruit juices etc.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothes, preferably of light shades. Dark shades absorb heat and tight clothes do not allow the body to breathe which causes all the heat to remain trapped inside.
• Cut down on your tea/coffee intake
• Avoid red meats
• Yoga is a great method to release the internal heat and bring down the body heat level. Practice pranayama and meditation - these have a cooling effect on body and mind, and are very effective in bringing down the body heat.

Home Remedies
Apart from changes in lifestyle, you can also try some of these home remedies which can help you regulate your body heat level:

• Watermelons have a wonderful cooling effect on the body. Eat them as they are or as salads or drink up a glass of watermelon juice everyday to cool your body.
• Buttermilk is a fantastic cooling agent too. Replace your cuppa with a glass of buttermilk during summer.
• After you return from outside, apply a paste of sandalwood and rose water on your face, chest and back to cool your body.
• If you can’t give up on tea, add some cardamom to your tea. Cardamom, according to Ayurveda, is excellent in reducing body heat.
• Coconut water is very effective in cooling the body and reducing the body heat.
• Try and consume fruits such as bananas, peaches, apricots etc. or other coolants such as cucumbers or sugarcane juice.

Regulating body heat is essential for ensuring healthy functioning of the body. In case you are experiencing any symptoms of high body heat, consult a doctor today and try some of these remedies at home to cool down your body.