Heatwave- how to stay cool
Well, here we go! Heatwave is here!
No need to panic. One week you have 15 C and the other 30 C. It’s called British summer.
Here are some tips from me how to stay cool in this hotness.
Don’t get frustrated, you will aggravate your pitta( or heat) in you which will make you even hotter
Eat foods that are cooling rather than heating. For example coconut, grapes, ripe mango, leafy greens.
Drink more liquids than normal if you sweat a lot (like most Pitta types do) and I encourage you to drink coconut water as well as it will keep you cool and hydrate the same time. Do not drink ice cold water nor sparkling drinks straight after being on the sun, right before or right after a meal. According to Ayurveda this can cause lots of health issues (including skin problems)
Coriander water works wonders for the heat: Take few teaspoons of coriander seeds and soak them in a glass of water overnight (about 8-12 h), in the morning, drain the seeds and drink the water. You can do this every day!
Do not exercise vigorously! Yes, you heard me right. Exercising will make you more hot and aggravate Pitta again.
Try to stay inside where it is cool and away from the direct sunlight. It is OK to stay on the sun early morning when the sun is not that hot yet to get that vitamin D boost, but only for max 15 min. It is not OK to take sun from 11 am to 4 pm. This is the time when the sun is the hottest and most dangerous. People have been reporting sunburns after 30 min laying on the sun already recently which is showing how strong the sun is at the moment. There is also a myth that sun will give you energy but the truth is that it will drain your energy out and all you are left with is redness, dryness and heat (and most probably pain). It is true that up to 30 min under the morning sun will boost your energy because of the vitamin D but any more than that is starting to take rather than give.
Leave all the stressful jobs to the colder day. Keep your mind calm and cool
You can also use a rose water spray on your skin. Rose water has cooling qualities and makes you feel refreshed, youthful and beautiful! Just take a spray bottle with water, add some rose water in it and use! Rose tea when cooled is also a great way to cool your body.
Use cooling moisturisers on your body. Read here about an ayurvedic super moisturiser called Shata Dhauta Ghrita
Wear clothing which is made from natural fabric like linen or cotton and which is loose.
For women, if you can, avoid wearing underwear to stay away from further heat problems down there ;). Lots of fertility issues are caused by too much heat in vagina and bacteria can start to grow there easily with heat and moisture
Stay away from strong caffeine like coffee and green tea and also alcohol. They are pitta aggravating!
As much as you might like to reach out for a very cold drink during a hot day, Ayurveda does not advise you to do so. Cold drinks cool you down for a short period of time but at the same time put off your digestive fire which means that every time you eat something your digestion has to work much harder and produce more heat. Ice cold drinks give you a false feeling of coolness in a long term. You will find yourself tolerating less and less heat. It is better to drink a room temperature coconut drink instead and you will feel coolness in your whole body and mind in the long term.
Sometimes these suggestions are not enough and your pitta might need further investigation especially if you suffer with sunburns with blisters, acidity, heartburn and anger during any time of the year. Please book your appointment now.
Stay cool! xx