The heat inside the body is the reason for all the external symptoms. One should aim to lower body heat naturally to prevent heat-related issues.
Continue reading to learn all there is to know about body heat and practical ways to lower it.
Tips to reduce body heat
Experiencing extreme temperatures can result in body heat, commonly known as heat stress, which occurs during extremely hot weather or heat waves. The body temperature is considered normal at 97.7-99.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the body cannot maintain homeostasis, it results in heat stress. The hypothalamus controls the body’s temperature.
If a person’s body becomes overheated, the hypothalamus sends a message to the nerves, signalling them to make the skin produce more perspiration. The sweat evaporates, causing the body to chill.
Cold foot bath
One can sit back and relax by putting the feet in a cold foot bath, which will also cool the body.
Put ice cubes in a bucket of water and add cold water to it. Soak the feet for a while in the water.
Cold water
The fastest cure for any heat-related symptom is a cold glass of water. It is the most affordable, simple and effective technique to lower body temperature. This aids in the body’s recovery from high temperature-related side effects.
Coconut water
The ideal summer beverage is coconut water. Drinking coconut water is one of the finest natural cures for summer health issues, including dehydration and infections.
This cooling beverage contains an electrolyte composition that is rich in nutrients and boosts a person’s energy. One may keep the body cool every day by drinking one glass of coconut water.
Peppermint
Peppermint has a cooling effect that helps to rapidly lower body heat.
Bring a kettle of water to a boil and add a few fresh peppermint leaves. Allow the water to cool down while straining the leaves. Soak in this water for 20 to 30 minutes after mixing it with regular bathing water.
Do this repeatedly each day to lower body temperature. The body temperature can be reduced by consuming mint leaves or drinking mint leaf juice.
Hydrating foods
The combination of watermelon, muskmelon and cucumber is another natural way to reduce body heat.
Eat cold foods in the summer to keep the stomach cool and prevent issues like heartburn. Vegetables with high water content, such as bottle gourd and pumpkin, are best suited for summertime eating. These are also nutritious vegetables that cool and calm the stomach.
Onions have a cooling effect and are considered to be high in the antioxidant quercetin. One will benefit from being protected from sunstroke as well. Along with the onions, carrot, cucumber and radish can also be added to the salad.
Aloe vera
One of the most widely used natural ways to reduce body heat is using aloe vera. Aloe vera is a well-known yet efficient natural treatment for high body heat.
Aloe vera is a multi-functional plant that can help a person maintain a normal body temperature by calming and cooling the body. A fresh aloe vera leaf’s gel can be extracted and applied to the body for 20 minutes before stepping into a cool bath.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk’s primary and most advantageous quality is that it reduces body temperature.
Buttermilk benefits are available to men as well as women. Buttermilk can help men with high body temperature and metabolic rate. For women experiencing hot flashes, which typically happen during menopause, buttermilk can be helpful.
In addition, buttermilk supplies vital probiotic vitamins and minerals that are lost by suffocating in the summer heat.
Fenugreek
Methi or fenugreek seeds can help reduce body temperature. One option is to consume a few fenugreek seeds, while the other is to soak one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in a glass of water overnight and then drink the water the following day.
Chilli
Chilli is an exciting addition to the list. Research indicates that the active component in chilli peppers is capsaicin. Capsaicin causes the body to react by sending nerve signals.
When eaten, it alerts the brain that the body is overheated. This causes excessive sweating, which cools the body.
Watermelon
Another common summer fruit to beat the heat, besides mangoes, is watermelon.
Watermelon has a high water content (92% on average), which helps keep the body hydrated and cool. Regular consumption may help a person manage the body’s temperature.
Cucumbers
Water makes up 95% of a cucumber. Cucumber provides hydration and also eliminates toxins from the body.
Cucumber’s high water content functions as a body cleanser and aids in the removal of waste items from the body.
Cucumbers aid in lowering stomach heat which is a major contributor to bad breath. Since it has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and is cooling and moisturising, cucumber is fantastic for the skin as well.
Onions
Surprisingly effective cooling abilities can be found in onions. When applied externally, onion juice is actually quite good at treating heat stroke and burnt skin, in addition to its cooling benefits.
Yoghurt
Yoghurt is a crucial component of the diet of some of the world’s warmest countries, whether in the form of a sweet lassi in India or a salted ayran in Turkey.
Yoghurt draws heat away from the mouth, throat and stomach by coating these areas and acting as a heat conductor. Yoghurt is so cooling and has a reviving flavour.
Celery
Celery can help a person stay cool in the summer because it is 90% water and includes vital nutrients.
Iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and zinc are abundant in celery. Celery tastes excellent in salads, on its own or when cooked with other veggies.
Corn
Grilled corn is a common food item in the summer months.
One might wonder how anything grilled might make the body feel cooler. The phytochemicals zeaxanthin and lutein, which are found in corn, actively lessen the impact that the sun’s rays have on the skin, lowering the risk of sunburn.
Also, the fibre in the grilled corn aids in water retention, allowing the body to use less salt without resulting in dehydration.
Cold shower
One of the main reasons experts advise cold showers is for improved circulation. The circulation in the body surface is restricted by the cold water as it hits the body and limbs. As a result, the deeper tissues experience faster blood flow to maintain an ideal body temperature.
Regular exercise
The body cools down as a result of sweating. The cooling system has to work harder when a person exercises outside in the heat.
The body directs more blood away from the muscles and toward the skin. By pumping more blood to the skin, arms, legs and head, the body can also lower the core temperature. This allows more heat to escape, thereby reducing the body temperature.
Mushroom
Mushrooms are cooling owing to their nutritional profile. An exceptional source of 15 different vitamins, minerals and antioxidants may be found in particular in crimini mushrooms. These advantages and the general retention of their nutrients are maximised by eating them fresh.
Apply sandalwood
Sandalwood’s relaxing and cooling qualities help to keep the body cool, especially in the heat.
Make a thick paste using two spoons of sandalwood and some water. Add a few drops of rose water to this paste and apply to the forehead and chest.
Let the sandalwood mask dry for three to five minutes, and rinse it off with water.
Amla
The Indian gooseberry sometimes referred to as amla, is high in vitamin C and can help lower body heat. Combine amla and water in the ratio of 1:4, respectively.
Drink it regularly and flavour it with salt or sugar. Drinking this juice twice daily, depending on how hot the body is feeling, will assist in releasing heat from the body and prevent acne, rashes and boils caused by heat.
Consume seeds to reduce body heat
Fenugreek seeds
As mentioned earlier, fenugreek seeds bring down body heat. A few fenugreek seeds can be consumed as such, or one tablespoon can be soaked in a glass of water overnight and then consumed in the morning to keep the body cool.
Poppy seeds
Poppy seeds, a common seasoning found in most curries, are an effective short-term treatment for heat exhaustion.
They are brimming with chemical components derived from plants that act as antioxidants, prevent disease and promote good health. Also, they cool the body, which aids in controlling temperature.
Make a paste of poppy seeds and salt by grinding the seeds with a little water. For a tasty and healthier version, add some lemon juice and mint leaves.
Coriander seeds
Coriander seeds aid in maintaining a healthy digestive system and assist in reducing inflammation. It can bring down the body temperature and help in keeping us cool. The diaphoretic characteristics of coriander seeds make them useful as a fever treatment.
Sabja seeds
Sabja seeds, most usually referred to as falooda seeds or basil seeds, are a nutritional powerhouse with a wealth of immune-boosting qualities.
These tiny seeds are frequently mistaken for chia seeds. The capacity of basil seeds to promote digestive health, assist in weight loss, regulate blood sugar, cool the body, relieve stress, reduce inflammation and prevent certain infections are just a few of their health advantages.
Sabja seeds are well known for lowering body temperature and calming the stomach. These seeds can be added to a wide range of beverages, including milkshakes, smoothies, yoghurt, coconut water, coconut milk and lemonades. Sabja seeds are a natural coolant that can be used to combat the oppressive summer heat.
Flax seeds
Flaxseeds have fantastic health benefits. They can be an essential part of every diet because they are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Flax seeds can be eaten at any time of the day and have a cooling impact on the body. Roasting them makes them crunchier. Eat it in the morning with warm water, either as seeds or powder, on an empty stomach.
However, if that does not appeal to the palate, try adding them to foods like salads, raita and other beverages, where the flavour will be masked by those of the other components while still providing the same health advantages.
Cumin seeds
One of the most popular spices in Indian cooking is cumin, which also has several health advantages. One of them is that it aids our body’s detoxification and cures acidity and gastric issues.
We can consume cumin seeds directly, include them in our meals or add crushed cumin powder to summertime beverages like lassi and lemon soda to help us stay hydrated and avoid heatstroke. When we experience bloating and indigestion, it makes us feel comfortable and nice.
Useful tips on how to reduce body heat
Here are a few summer health tips that you can follow to reduce body heat:
Wear comfortable clothes
The choice of clothing has an impact on how well air can flow over the skin and how quickly heat and sweat can dissipate. The warmth of the skin will rise during extreme heat, which will also make a person feel uncomfortable.
The following are some recommendations for the best clothing choices in intense heat.
- While at home, dress as casually as possible.
- Choose clothing that is breathable, light in colour and loose fitting. Air may move freely through breathable clothing, while light-coloured textiles reflect heat and light. As a result, the body will stay cooler.
- Use natural fibre textiles—cotton, linen and silk. These are suitable for absorbing perspiration and allowing the skin to breathe. The body temperature rises because synthetic fabrics fail to effectively absorb sweat and retain heat.
- Don’t wear apparel or textiles with dark colours or that is too restricting.
Apply cold compress
It is possible to swiftly reduce the temperature of the blood flowing through these veins by putting cold water or ice on specific body parts, such as the wrists, neck, chest and temples. These are the areas where the body releases the most heat and where the veins are closest to the skin’s surface.
These sites will provide easier access to the blood and circulatory system and speed up the cooling sensation one desperately needs.
Similarly, place a cold compress on the back of the neck—or, more precisely, the brainstem that passes through the back of the neck. This is the area of the brain that senses and controls body temperature. A cold press will hasten the onset of the cooling sensation throughout the body.
Sip on iced tea
A cold and chill glass of iced tea will unquestionably be the ideal choice to quench the thirst and keep a person cool.
Ice tea is a type of cold tea that is typically served in a glass filled with ice cubes, mild tea infusion, sweetened with honey and lemon flavour to quench the thirst during scorching Indian summer.
A basic brew poured over ice will do the trick to make the ice tea with the correct consistency and flavour. It’s made by adding a few tea leaves to boiling water. A surprise and delicious flavour would result from adding a few fresh mint leaves, thinly cut lemon rings, lemon juice and maybe some honey.
The iced tea would become nutritious and have incredible health advantages if lemon is added to it. This perfect drink has cooling properties, making it ideal for lowering body heat.
Conclusion
Extreme temperature results in increased body heat. Reducing body heat includes both internal and external factors like consuming hydrating foods as well as managing the body externally.
The blog elaborated on some of the foods that are the most cooling. Some of them should come as no surprise, but others can make us rethink the foods we eat to stay cool during the warmest months of the year. However, it’s always vital to remember that one of the best ways to stay cool is to drink adequate water.
FAQ
Who is more prone to overheating?
What can cause body heat?
What is body heat?
Body heat is a type of thermal energy produced as a byproduct of metabolism and physical activities in organisms.
