[fromusawithluv]

15 Ways To Keep Cool When it’s Hot

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: Dennis Lee, MD

Keeping cool when temperatures reach record highs isn’t just about comfort. Dangerously high temperatures can result in heat-related illnesses ranging from heat cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The following tips can help you keep cool all summer long.

   1. Alter your pattern of outdoor exercise to take advantage of cooler times (early morning or late evening). If you can’t change the time of your workout, scale it down by doing fewer minutes, walking instead or running, or decreasing your level of exertion.

   2. Wear loose-fitting clothing, preferably of a light color.

   3. Cotton clothing will keep you cooler than many synthetics.

   4. Fill a spray bottle with water and keep it in the refrigerator for a quick refreshing spray to your face after being outdoors.

   5. Fans can help circulate air and make you feel cooler even in an air-conditioned house.

   6. Try storing lotions or cosmetic toners in the refrigerator to use on hot, overtired feet.

   7. Keep plastic bottles of water in the freezer; grab one when you’re ready to go outside. As the ice melts, you’ll have a supply of cold water with you.

   8. Take frequent baths or showers with cool or tepid water.

   9. Combat dehydration by drinking plenty of water along with sports drinks or other sources of electrolytes.

read more

I've heard of using raw onions to combat dry heat in places like New Delhi.  How does one use raw onion?  Do you keep it in your hand? in your pocket?  Seriously, can you please advice?

If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to post.

Edited by fromusawithluv, 12 May 2006 - 12:36 PM.

[john.sw]

Keeping Cool

Here are a few more tips on keeping cool in extreme temperatures:

• Soak a towel in water, wring it out, and put it in the refrigerator or freezer until it's good and cold. Then wrap the towel around your neck.
  -
  
• Put cold water or cold cloths on your pulse points, such as the inside of your wrists and the backs of your knees.
  -
  
• At night, instead of having a sheet on top of you, use a damp towel.  As the water evaporates it will cool your body – this is the same principal that refrigerators, freezers and a/c units use!

[jyotirmoy]

As per Auyurveda onion has cooling property but only when consumed raw. The best way is to make onion raita. Very simple. Chop onions, chop cucumbers, whip curd, add onions & cucumber... mix well. Dry roast cumin seeds... grind. Add salt & ground cumin to the curd. Eat plenty of it. The cucumbers keep you hydrated.

[cyberhippie]

A friend swears that wearing a vest under his shirt keeps him cool, I've noticed a lot of locals doing this as well so I guess it works!

[jyotirmoy]

Yes a soft cotton vest called banian helps & it absorbs sweat... we all use it through out the year. In wnter thick vests or thermal vests.

[cyberhippie]

Yeah that's it Jyoti a banian I had forgotten the name!

[sadhuji]

a plain simple water therapy does wonders - splash water in your face, neck, behind your ears and wet your hair. let them dry on their own. you will feel refreshed and also beat the heat.

the water need not necessarily be cold !!!!

[Mount Cleverest]

A bit of ice wrapped inside a towel which is wrapped around your neck..does wonders.

The Aussie cricket team tried this a couple of years back during the test tour to India and it much have done them some good..they finally managed to beat India in India.

[Dim Tulip]

Is the Banian made out of the Banian tree? Where can one find these?

Edited by Dim Tulip, 16 May 2006 - 12:09 PM.

[Mount Cleverest]

Banian has got nothing to do with a Banyan tree.

It is made out of cotton..with high absorption capacity..most Indian men wear it inside their shirts all through the year..like I am, right now

[Dim Tulip]

Mount Cleverest, on May 16 2006, 07:04 AM, said:

Banian has got nothing to do with a Banyan tree.

It is made out of cotton..with high absorption capacity..most Indian men wear it inside their shirts all through the year..like I am, right now

Oops..that was a stupid post
I know what you mean now. Its the sleeveless vest most guys wear in India.
Didn't realise it was called a Banian.

Thanks

[Luckywoman]

Siesta might work. On the top heat of the day stay inside and keep quiet. Go visit monuments and what so ever in morning or evening.

[cyberhippie]

In short you ain't going to beat the heat but that's no reason to let it beat you! Look around you nobody is running around meeting deadlines and getting flustered. A slow approach to life is what's required in extreme heat. Lots of down time, early mornings and drinks are the order of the day.
Look for the shady side of the street, every little helps, that cold bottle of water you just purchased needs to caresse the back of your neck, wrists and brow, just out of the shower, turn on the fan and dry slowly, it gives you a good ten minutes of respite, if it's an option tie a bandana on your head and take the scooter for a spin.
Hey look the gardener wallah has just watered the garden from the pipe well, smear yourself up with Odomos and catch the cool rising from the earth. Keep the bathroom door in your room firmly closed, no point in adding humidity to your miseries!
Ah shopping mall, who cares if you're shopping, there's AC to be had, use it. Soak your cotton sheets before bedtime, is may just sooth you enough to get some sleep. Unless you're hardcore, don't even start on the Old Monk, unless you're willing to see it through to comatose. Bought Stardust or Chip magazine lately, get a hold of it with both hands and fan furiously.
Find a bus, point the compass north and keep going until you see snow!
Stay in the bath until pink and wrinkly  

[mronhifi123]

A friend swears that wearing a vest under his shirt keeps him cool, I've noticed a lot of locals doing this as well so I guess it works!