Depending on which part of the country you live in, you could experience harsh summers, with temperatures exceeding 40o-45o Celsius. So, are you looking for ways to beat the summer heat? Here are your best options:
Cool your house
Certain cities like Delhi or Hyderabad that see temperatures rising above 45o Celsius during the summer, it is understandable to install air conditioners or air coolers at home. But is the investment necessary for lower temperatures?
If you do not wish to buy one, you could consider renting it during the hottest months of the summer. Here you might wonder: air cooler vs ac, which is better? Air coolers are better if you want to rent for a long period of time, whereas air conditioners are better for short-term rentals.
Air coolers are not as powerful as ACs, but they will certainly do the job of cooling the room. You can get an air cooler for rent starting around Rs.200. However, if you rent for 3 years, it’ll be the cheapest. If you rent for around a few months, it will cost you around Rs.1,000 per month.
Air conditioners or ACs are cheaper to rent for a shorter period compared to air coolers. A 3-month rental will cost you around Rs.850 per month, whereas a 3-year rental will cost you close a little under Rs.800. The difference isn’t much.
Wear breathable fabrics and light colours
During the summers, avoid polyester, spandex, and other materials that can stick to your body. Wear breathable materials such as cotton and linen. These won’t stick to your body as much, even when you sweat. Avoid tight clothes so as to allow the air to circulate to make you feel cooler. Also, wear lighter colours because dark colours absorb more heat and will make you feel warmer.
Drink as much water as you can
Try to drink at least 2 litres of water a day, especially during the summer to keep yourself hydrated. You could also drink coconut water and natural, fresh juices with little to no sugar. Avoid substituting your liquid intake with soft drinks. This is because they carry a lot of sugar which will make you thirsty, defeating the purpose of drinking liquids.
Eat spicy food
The natural reaction to this would be surprise because the common suggestion is to eat “cooler” foods during the summer. However, a professor from Yale university discovered that eating spicy food during the summer helps maintain your body temperature. In simple terms, when you eat spicy food, you tend to sweat more, which is a primary method of regulating body temperature.
Avoid going out in the afternoon
During summers, the highest temperatures in the day are recorded during the afternoon starting from noon to 3 pm. Mornings and evenings tend to be cooler. So, if you’re making plans to go out, especially shopping, try to avoid the afternoons. Yes, most stores have ACs now, however, sudden changes in body temperatures like going to a store with AC, then stepping back out into the heat, and repeating this may make you fall ill.
Summers can be difficult due to high temperatures, however, once you get the knack of keeping yourself cool, you can really enjoy it the same way you would any other time of the year.