Temperatures are set to soar this week as another summer heatwave spreads across the UK, with forecasters predicting the mercury could hit the high 30s. Without air conditioning, staying cool requires clever strategies. Here are expert-backed tips to help you beat the heat.
Lukewarm Showers Cool Faster Than Cold
Scientists at the University of Reading advise that a lukewarm shower might actually cool you down faster than a cold one. Cold water can shock the body and cause blood vessels to shrink, trapping heat. Lukewarm water helps blood vessels move heat to the skin's surface without overheating you. Try it just before bed.
Hot Tea: A Surprising Coolant
Drinking a cup of hot tea in warm weather can help you sweat faster, and as sweat evaporates, it cools the body. A 2012 study from the University of Ottawa found that the cooling effect from sweating is greater than the warming from the drink, making tea an effective way to cool down, especially outside direct sunlight.
Ice and Fans: A Simple Hack
Fans often just move warm air around. To improve cooling, place a bowl of ice in front of the fan and angle it so the air blows over the ice. This will circulate colder air around the room.
Sleep on the Floor
Hot air rises, so if you have trouble sleeping, moving your mattress to the floor can help. Temperatures near the floor are cooler, aiding better rest.
Spicy Food Can Help
Eating a spicy curry might seem counterintuitive, but chillies contain capsaicin, which signals the brain that you are too hot, triggering sweating. This cools the body similarly to drinking hot tea.
Cool Down with Cold Water on Pulse Points
Running cold water over your wrists for a few minutes reduces the temperature of blood in the veins, helping cool the body. This works on any pulse point where blood vessels are close to the skin, such as the neck.
Window Strategy: Close by Day, Open by Night
Keep windows and curtains closed during the day to block heat from the sun. Open them in the evening to let cooler air in. For cross-ventilation, open windows on opposite sides of the home to create airflow.
Reduce Meat Consumption
Studies show that eating large amounts of protein from meat increases metabolic heat production as the body works harder to digest it. Cutting down on burgers and other heavy meats can help keep body temperature lower.
Minty Foods Trick the Brain
Eating minty things can help, as the menthol triggers nerve endings that respond to cold, tricking the brain into feeling chilly. This can provide a refreshing sensation without actually lowering body temperature.
