Best and Worst Foods to Beat the Heat

By Lisa Collier Cool Aug 02, 2013 382 Recommend

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by Lisa Collier Cool

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During these long hot days of summerwhen air conditioning just isnt enough cooling comfort can be as close as your refrigerator. Certain fruits and veggies

may have cooling properties, helping you to chill your body from the inside out. The next time the heat leaves you feeling weary, try loading up on these nutritious, refreshing foods to cool downand rack up extra health benefits, too.

Water-Rich Foods
Adequate water intake doesnt only prevent dehydration; it also flushes out toxins and carries important nutrients to your cells.Staying hydrated is a good idea yearround, but even more crucial when the temperatures start rising. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimates that up to 20 percent of water intake is from hydrating foods, so its important to add some high-H2O recipes to your cooking plans, such as cool soups and applesauce. Theres a side perk to loading your meals with extra fluid: research from Pennsylvania State University suggests that eating foods with high water content can help you feel satiated while reducing your calorie consumption. The benefits were only observed when study participants ate foods that contained water drinking a glass of water with a meal didnt have the same effect. However, the Penn State researchers stressed that they didnt want to discourage people from drinking water, since its critical for health. The IOM recommends 14 cups of beverages for men and about 9 cups for women as a minimum. Foods that Beat Fatigue

Watermelon
Theres a reason this summer treat is a family favorite at picnics and beach days: watermelon contains up to 92 percent water, making it one of the most H20-rich fruits. Moreover, a 2009 study from the University of Aberdeen medical school found that certain fruits and vegetables may be twice as hydrating as a glass of waterand watermelon topped the list, according to the Daily Mail. Watermelons unique combination of simple sugars, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium helps replace the electrolytes lost through sweat and exercise.

Cucumbers
Another cooling produce item that made the University of Aberdeens list was the cucumber. These crisp green snacks are among the most hydrating vegetables: they are comprised of 96 percent water. And while cucumbers arent as packed with vitamins as some veggies, they can help you meet your daily requirements for vitamins C and K.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes are not only low-calorie and full of water (94 percent, to be precise), theyre also nutrient-dense and have myriad health benefitsthey may even decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer. Botanically a fruit, the mighty tomato is loaded with the powerful antioxidant lycopene. Road Trip Snacks: Best Foods When Youre on the Move

Spicy foods
Counterintuitive but true: spicy foods may warm you up at first, but they actually cool you down after. Eating spicy foods often results in a flushing or surge of blood to the skin, somewhere on the body, Barry G. Swanson, co -chair of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Washington State University, told the Seattle Times. This regional increase in blood flow may result in increased temperature, and as the flushing dissipates, you may feel cooler.

Coconut Water
Not only is coconut water a tasty treat, but research published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition shows that its comparable to carbohydrate-electrolyte sports drinks as far as hydration goes, and with just a fraction of the calories. This delicious beverage is fat-free, cholesterol-free, and rich in potassium.

Ice Cream and Beer: Not as Cooling as They Appear

Although a freshly-scooped bowl of ice cream or a cold pint of beer might cool

you down initially, the long-term effect is the opposite: your body temperature will actually rise as soon as the digestion process begins, according to the Seattle Times. Alcohol also has a counter-intuitive affectit creates dehydration by inhibiting the release of the hormone vasopressin, responsible for the reabsorption of water from the kidneys, according to food scientist Stephen Pintauro. And metabolizing the drink uses water, which also increases dehydration. If youre hoping to stay refreshed this summer, stick to water-rich foods and spicy eats, and youll be cool as a cucumberor better yet, a watermelon.