Did you know anything about the thermic effect of food? It is the metabolic increase in the body after eating a meal, which produces heat in the body. While this may sound nice for the chilly winters, it’s the opposite of what you want during the dreaded summers.
But if there are foods that raise your body temperature, there must also be foods that do the opposite, right? Well, yes, there are!
By incorporating hydrating, cooling foods into your diet, you can lower your body temperature to a more comfortable degree while also nourishing yourself with much-needed nutrients.
In this blog, we’ve shared a comprehensive list of foods and drinks that lower your body temperature so you can beat the heat with ease!
Table of Contents
- What Foods Reduce Body Heat? 20 Foods & Drinks That Reduce Body Heat
- How Can I Reduce Extreme Body Heat? 6 Tips & Lifestyle Habits
- Dietitian’s Recommendation
- The Final Say
- FAQs
- References
What Foods Reduce Body Heat? 20 Foods & Drinks That Reduce Body Heat
Following are some of the best foods to reduce body heat:
| 1) Coconut Water | Light and refreshing coconut milk is one of the best cooling drinks that you can include in your summer diet. It is a water-based liquid containing enough vitamins and minerals to cool your body temperature. |
| 2) Mint/Peppermint | Mint leaves can be used to make chutneys, dips or drinks. It has cooling properties that calm the body temperature in intense heat. |
| 3) Watermelon | Watermelon contains about 91.45% water and antioxidants that provide a cooling effect to the body, making it a great cooling and hydrating food. |
| 4) Curd | A dynamic body-cooling food, curd has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and can be used in smoothies, lassi and raita. |
| 5) Bananas | Bananas are cooling fruit and a good source of instant energy. It leads to tissue contraction, allowing for more water absorption and cooling from the core. |
| 6) Avocado | Avocados contain mono-saturated fatty acids that help remove toxins and excess heat from the blood. In addition, it is easily digestible, preventing the body from generating excess heat for digestion. |
| 7) Cucumber | Among the ancient body cooling foods recommended by Ayurveda. It has a high dietary fibre content, and the high water content helps ward off the heat and keeps you hydrated. |
| 8) Onion | Onions offer a cooling effect and help protect against heatstroke. The vegetable can be eaten raw (with a pinch of salt and lemon for flavour) or used in raitas. |
| 9) Citrus Fruits | Citrus fruits like limes, lemons and oranges contain antioxidants that provide a cooling effect. They’re ideal for treating internal and external body heat. |
| 10) Lemon Drinks | Shikanji, made by mixing lime water, salt, cumin, and sugar/honey, is one of the best drinks to cool down the body. It helps keep you fresh throughout the day, keeps you hydrated and regulates body temperature. |
| 11) Celery | Celery contains approximately 95% water and essential nutrients to help keep you energised throughout the hot day. |
| 12) Aloe Vera | You can consume two tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel (preferably freshly instead of packaged) in summer to cool your body. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help regulate body temperature. |
| 13) Sattu | Roasted gram flour or sattu is traditional and among the best cooling foods in India. You can mix 2 tbsp of sattu, a glass of cold water, a pinch of rock salt, and half a lemon and cumin powder to make a refreshing, cooling drink. |
| 14) Tropical Fruit | Certain fruits, such as pineapple, contain the enzyme bromelain, which fights inflammation, providing a cooling effect to the body. |
| 15) Aam Panna | It is a typical summer drink in India, made from raw mango. Raw mango has a heat-regulating ability that protects the body from heat stress and heatstroke. The taste of raw mango mixed with sugar and mint gives Aam Panna a delicious taste. |
| 16) Rose Drink | Rose drinks are refreshing beverages traditionally known for their cooling properties, perfect for soothing body heat. |
| 17) Fennel | Fennel seeds are well-known for their cooling properties and can help reduce body heat, making fennel tea or chewing on fennel seeds a great remedy for staying cool. |
| 18) Buttermilk | Buttermilk helps improve metabolism, facilitates digestion and cools the body. It also soothes any indigestion that may have been caused by the weather. |
| 19) Bael's Juice | Bael fruit juice acts as the best coolant for your body and instantly lowers your body temperature. For better flavour, taste and results, you can keep the pulp in the refrigerator before use. |
| 20) Sugar Cane Juice | Plain sugarcane juice is a great refreshing drink for summer. However, when mixed with mint, ginger, and lime, it becomes even better, keeps you hydrated, and lowers body temperature. |
Also Read: Top 10 Summer Workout Tips: Exercises & Workout Plans For Lasting Results!
How Can I Reduce Extreme Body Heat? 6 Tips & Lifestyle Habits
Following are the tips to reduce heat production in your body:
1. Wear Comfortable Clothing
Being dressed in tight clothes, whether you are travelling, busy at work, or just lazing around at home, creates excess heat in the body tissues and makes you uncomfortable. So, wear comfortable clothing made from light, breathable fabrics, like linen and cotton, and avoid skinny denim jeans, synthetic nylon or rayon clothing.
Also Read: Does Sweating Burn Fat & Help You Lose Weight? 7 Signs You’re Burning Fat
2. Apply Cold Compress
Applying a cold compress to your forehead, neck, or pulse points helps lower body temperature and provides immediate relief from excessive heat. It's an effective way to cool down quickly during heat exhaustion or hot weather.
3. Drink Iced Beverages
At the end of a long day spent outdoors, especially exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time, the body is exhausted and worn out and only needs a refreshing drink that cools it from the inside. Drinking a glass of drinks mentioned above will not only instantly refresh the body and invigorate the mind but also reduce the inherent heat in the system.
4. Practice Sitali Yoga/Cooling Breath
This pranayama is a type of breathing technique that helps cool the body, hydrate it, and calm pitta imbalances. To do this, just roll your tongue length-wise, pull it out of your lips and inhale through your mouth. Begin with three minutes of Sitali breathing, then return to normal breathing and repeat three minutes of Sitali breathing. This breathing technique will ultimately help cool the body and mind and calm the pitta dosha.
5. Take a Cold Shower
Take a cold shower as soon as you get home from work or the gym to remove any sweat that clings to your skin, which could increase body heat. Additionally, simply immersing your feet in ice-cold water for just ten minutes will calm your overheated body tremendously.
6. Follow a Hydration Diet
Consciously include cooling fruits like watermelons, pomegranates and strawberries in your breakfast and snacks to calm your body cells from heat stress. For lunch and dinner, have fresh vegetable salads with cucumber and a bowl of yoghurt, as they provide the necessary anti-inflammatory substances to calm the internal organs in your overheated system.
Also Read: Follow These Unique Weight Loss Tips In Home To Lose Weight Naturally!
Dietitian’s Recommendation
I recommend a proper diet that includes the foods and drinks listed above for sustained energy throughout the day. Especially in summer, the body releases more sweat and gets exhausted quickly, which makes it all the more important to keep it hydrated. Cooling foods and drinks provide relief from the cold and help maintain temperature inside and out.
Dt. Lavina Chauhan
The Final Say
When the temperature outside is high, it becomes important to regulate our body heat. One way to do that is by eating the right foods and drinking cool, refreshing beverages. By incorporating the foods mentioned above, you will not only reduce body heat but also offer a party of nourishments to your body.
FAQs
1. What foods should I avoid in summer?
In summer, it’s best to avoid heavy, spicy, and greasy foods, as they can increase body heat and cause discomfort.
2. What are some of the best cooling foods for the body?
Some of the best cooling foods for the body include cucumbers, watermelon, mint, coconut water, and leafy greens.
3. Which fruit can reduce body heat?
Fruits that can help reduce body heat include watermelon, cucumbers, and oranges. These fruits are hydrating and packed with nutrients that promote a cooling effect on the body, making them ideal for hot weather.
References
- https://m.netmeds.com/health-library/post/excessive-body-heat-7-simple-ways-to-bring-it-down?srsltid=AfmBOopNPY_tEIYt11ebPeScOTGxy-ByBaQy4dkkZH3wpSBIL763YACy
- https://www.apollopharmacy.in/blog/article/how-to-reduce-body-heat?srsltid=AfmBOoqsaK-hk_mtU8ssfKtNJeA-JVyGrIsucPc946SwUJBoiU9Tx6F0
- https://flebo.in/health/best-foods-to-cool-body-reduce-body-heat/
- https://bebodywise.com/blog/body-cooling-foods/
- https://www.truemeds.in/blog/7-ways-to-beat-body-heat
- https://www.carehospitals.com/blog-detail/food-to-reduce-body-heat/
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