4 Simple Ways to 'Beat The Heat'

While the calendars may indicate that fall is here, temperatures in places like Southern California are still hovering in the mid-80s and 90s. As such, those living in hotter parts of the country should take efforts to protect themselves from serious ailments like heatstroke, dehydration and heat exhaustion. Here are a few tips on how to stay cool on even the hottest days.

Close The Curtains
One way to keep your home cool is to close the blinds, drapes or curtains on all your windows. The US Department of Energy recommends installing white curtains, because they will reflect the sun's heat, thereby making your own home a little bit cooler. It's also recommended that you put a damp cloth in front of any open windows as they will cool the air flowing into your home.

Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated during warm weather season is incredibly important. Because hotter temperatures cause our bodies to sweat, we need to consume considerably more water in the summer and spring than in the autumn and winter to stay properly hydrated. The Mayo Clinic recommends that adult men drink around 3 liters of water a day while women should consume around 2.2 liters daily. You can bump up those amounts by one liter each on days when you're engaged in rigorous physical activity. It's also a good idea to go easy on caffeine-rich beverages like energy drinks and soda on hot days, as they will only serve to make you thirstier.

Fire Up The Grill
In addition to being a delicious method of preparing food, barbecuing is popular during the hotter months of the year because preparing dinner on an outdoor grill is much cooler than using an oven that will heat up your entire home. If you're not overly interested in eating outdoor food staples like steak, hamburgers or chicken, U.S. News & World Report has a listing of eight unconventional foods you can cook outdoors. And while it may sound counterintuitive, you may want to add some chili peppers to the grill. The capsaicin in the peppers will cause you to perspire, which will in turn cool down your body temperature.

Dress Cool
Finally, it's important to dress properly for hot weather. Just as you wouldn't venture out into a snowstorm with shorts and a T-shirt, you also shouldn't wear dark-colored heavy fabrics out when it's hot. Also, try to avoid wearing clothing that is too tight. Loose-fitting attire will let your skin breathe and won't cling to your body, which has the effect of making you feel hotter. Additionally, you want to stay away from hats unless they're made of straw. A lot of heat escapes your body through your head, so putting a hat on will only have the effect of closing off that release valve. Straw hats are the exception because they are constructed specifically to dissipate body heat.

Article by Mario McKellop.