by Sally Phillips

Californians don’t need to be told that it can get hot in California. Really hot. The highest temperature ever recorded here was 134 degrees. Although it might not always reach these extreme temperatures, but when it’s hot and dry, it’s even more important to make sure you are looking after your body and giving it what it needs to keep cool. Staying hydrated helps to prevent heat exhaustion and mental decline while improving cognitive function and physical performance. You can quite easily help to regulate your body temperature with certain food and drinks, which enable you to stay cool, healthy and have enough energy to get on with your day.

Water doesn’t have to be boring

Water is the best thing to drink to stay hydrated. It is generally recommended that men should drink around 13 ounces of fluid a day and women should consume about nine ounces. But the amount a person actually needs can be dependent on the climate and their activity levels. For example, the more you sweat, the more you will need to drink. Water isn’t always the most appealing drink, but you can make it tastier by adding a slice of cucumber or lemon to it.

Cool down with an iced drink

Iced drinks and smoothies are probably one of the most delicious and healthiest options to stay cool. They come in a huge array of flavors and are a refreshing way to keep your temperature down. The great thing about making them yourself, is not just being able to enjoy them when you want, but you know exactly what’s going in them. Just throw in whatever you want, along with some ice, and the ice maker does it all for you. In fact, if you are heading out to a picnic or hitting the beach, you can even take the ice maker with you, so you can always stay cool.

Grab a piece of fruit

If you aren’t putting fruit into an iced drink or smoothie, then a fruit salad or just eating a piece on its own is a really good and healthy way of keeping yourself cool. Fruit contains fluids that can keep the body hydrated. Watermelons are loaded with water, in fact 92% of it is water and packed with electrolytes and other vitamins and antioxidants. And it’s not just watermelon, honeydew melons and even pomegranates are a valuable source of vitamins, while also helping to lower your body temperature.

Don’t forget your veggies

While fruit may hog the limelight for healthy ways to cool down, vegetables are not just packed with goodness but can help your body deal with heat. Just like watermelons, cucumbers are mainly made up of water, while also containing vitamins A, C, K and minerals like folate, thiamine and riboflavin.

Get hot and spicy

While you are already perspiring with the heat, eating anything that will make you sweat even more may be the last thing on your mind. But sweating is actually your body’s way of trying to cool down. In fact, when you eat or drink something hot, it warms up your stomach and esophagus, triggering your body to sweat so that it can get rid of the heat. The more you sweat, the more heat you are getting out of your body. So, think about indulging in a spicy meal, or drinking a hot drink. It’s also likely to have a longer effect then even drinking an iced drink.