With Met Eireann predicting a wave of good weather hitting the country this weekend people will be looking for ways to beat the heat - and a 99 might not be the answer.
As much as we love when things get hot here it’s safe to say we’re not used to it.
Most homes don’t have air conditioning and if our sunburned bodies are anything to go by, us Irish aren’t great for sunscreen and hat wearing.
Even though the nation is due the perfect icecream weather the icy treat isn’t the best way to cool down.
Applied Human Nutrition professor and food researcher at Mount Saint Vincent University Dr. Bohdan Luhovyy explains that unfortunately, ice cream doesn’t have quite the cooling effect we think it does and it’s all down to the ingredients.
“The predominant ingredients in most ice cream products are milk fat and sugar. When fat is broken down in the body, it releases a significant amount of heat. This process is called diet-induced thermogenesis. Compared to other nutrients, fats have the highest energy and therefore have a potential to release heat in the body.”
So ice-cream isn’t the way forward but here are some tips that could actually help.
Wear loose long sleeved clothing
Direct sunlight heats the blood vessels in your skin, sending heat inwards towards your core and raising your body temperature.
Wearing loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing can help avoid this with the added benefit of protecting against sunburn.
Keep hydrated
Hydration is key when your body is trying to maintain it’s temperature.
Sweating, though kind of unappealing sometimes, is your body’s way of cooling you down.
Drink plenty of water and try to avoid drinking coffee and alcohol, as they can have dehydrating effects.
Avoid the sun between 11am to 2pm
Typically the sun is the hottest between 11am and 2pm, and sunburns are most likely to happen during that period. Limiting your exposure during this time period will limit your chances of overheating.
Cool down your hot zones
Applying a little ice pack or a bottle filled with iced water to centre pressure points on your body is said to help you cool down immediately. These pressure points are:
– Ankles
– Behind the knees
– Wrists
– Elbow bends
– Neck
– Temples
Eat spicy foods
It may sound like a contradiction but it’s true: spicy foods actually help you cool down.
Spicy food increases your blood circulation, which in turn gets you sweaty.
As mentioned before, sweating is how your body cools you down.
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