As the Heat Rises, Stay Cool with these Foods and Juice Recipe

Yesterday the temperature peaked to 106º here in LA! I couldn’t believe how hot it got, specially at night when it’s usually really nice and cool here. With record temperatures hitting here in California and other states across the US, keeping cool has become one of our top priorities. At least it has for me! I can’t work or function under high heat. Yeah there is always air conditioning, the pool, or the good old-fashioned fan (which is what I’m using since I have no central AC), but there are other options to stay comfortable.  Did you know that what you eat and drink can make a HUGE difference in regulating body temperature and make the difference from feeling hot and bothered to cool and comfortable?

According to Nicole Laverty, a professional dietician, “on hot, humid days, muscles compete with the skin for blood circulation.  When the outside temperature is hot, more blood flows near the skin to help disperse body heat and cool the body down, thus keeping your body’s temperature from rising to dangerous levels.  But that can mean less blood reaches muscles, which then causes lethargy.” It makes sense why I had to take THREE naps yesterday! I rarely have to take naps. I was so tired and fussy. It is imperative to drink plenty of fluids and eat cooling foods to help hydrate your muscles and skin in order to maintain a safe internal body temperature.

So instead of focusing on cooling the air around you to cool your body, these foods will help to cool your body temperature from the inside out.  Here are some foods that can help:

Water-rich Foods

On a hot, summer day, the first thing that most people reach for is an icy glass of cold water.  Water is great at keeping the body cool and hydrated.  Maximize your intake of foods that contain high levels of water to minimize the intense heating effects of the sun.  Fresh and raw vegetables and fruits have high water content and should be incorporated into all of your meals and snacks.  Watermelon, mango, cucumbers, celery, iceberg lettuce, and tomatoes are only a few to mention.  This produce will hydrate the cells in your body and translate to a lower body temperature.

Astringent foods
The term astringency describes the drying and sometimes puckering sensation that is experienced after tasting many red wines.  Foods like lentils, beans, bananas, and grapes also contain an astringent molecule called tannin that gives these foods their “dryness.”  When you consume astringent foods, the tissues of your body contract, or shrink, and increase the water absorption by the body.  This absorption increases the water content in your cells, which, in turn, keeps your body temperature cooler.

Green, leafy vegetables
Greens are powerhouse vegetables packed with important vitamins and nutrients to keep your body healthy.  They are also a great source of one particular mineral that helps to cool your body, calcium.  Calcium works as a thermoregulator in your body which, as the term implies, helps to regulate your internal body temperature.  Your body uses the calcium in these green leafy vegetables to help send signals between your body and your brain to help regulate your temperature efficiently.

This morning I made myself this cool-me-down delicious green juice:

Recipe:
1 Orange
2 Lemons
3 Stalks of Celery
1 Large Cucumber
2×2″ piece of Aloe Vera
Bunch of Parsley
Bunch of Baby Kale
Ginger

Stay cool my friends!

Thank you for reading! This article was written by Diana Paez, a living foods devotee and natural hygienist.  If you liked this post, and want to show your appreciation please like, share or comment below. I’d love to hear from you! I am always open to any questions, suggestions, or comments. You are more than welcome to share the information in this article in your own blog or page, all I ask is that you link back to this post. Love, Peace and Health to you, friends. ❤

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