Cool It! August 24, 2010
Posted by franciecooper in life coaching, life lessons, Uncategorized.Tags: amethyst crystals, apples, artichoke, asparagus, basmati rice, boat pose, breakfast, broccoli, camel pose, cobra pose, coconut milk, cow pose, cucumber, dinner, electrolyte drink, fish pose, fresh cilantro, get cool, hard liquor, hot food, hydrate, jade, keep cool, leafy greens, lunch, malachite crystals, melon, milk, moonstone, olive oil, pearl, pears, red meat, red wine, salty food, sandalwood beads, silver, spicy food, sweet yogurt, tapioca pudding, thousand island dressing, tree pose, walk in the moonlight, watermelon, watermelon juice, white clothing, yogic cooling breath., yogurt
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If you’ve been reading my Weekly Companions this month, you know I’ve been on a learning kick, trying new things and expanding my horizons. But friends, it’s HOT outside and that’s stifling my creative spirit! North Texas tied a record high on Sunday, at 105, and Monday was expected to be just as hot. Since July 31, we’ve had 22 days of triple-digit temperatures. So, rather than just whining about it, I thought I’d learn some new ways to stay cool and share them with you!
Watch what (and when) you eat. Eat breakfast and lunch before the sun gets hot. Our appetite is weaker in the summer than it is in cooler seasons. In fact, it’s lowest during the hottest part of the day. Try to eat breakfast and lunch before 11 a.m. and a light dinner when the sun begins to set.
Stay hydrated. Drink 4 to 6 cups of water daily, along with cooling beverages like fresh coconut water and watermelon juice. Or make your own electrolyte drink: add 1 teaspoon each of lime juice and sugar, and a pinch of rock salt to a glass of cool water.
Avoid hot, spicy, salty foods. Hard liquor, red wine, and red meat are also said to make our bodies too heated during the summer.
Eat sweet, bitter, and astringent foods instead. Some experts claim that the best summer foods are made with milk, yogurt, cucumber, apples, pears, melon, watermelon, fresh cilantro, asparagus, artichoke, broccoli, and basmati rice. For breakfast, you could try oatmeal cooked with milk and a pinch of cardamom and sugar. At lunch or dinner, get your daily dose of leafy greens. Fresh salads with olive oil or Thousand Island dressing are said to be ideal for cooling us. Dessert? A number of professionals recommend tapioca pudding or a cup of sweet yogurt.
Avoid direct exposure to the sun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you have to spend time outdoors during the heat of the day, wear loose, comfortable clothing made of cotton or silk so skin can breathe. Wear colors that reflect the sunlight, such as white, blue, green, or gray, and cooling jewelry made with sandalwood beads, jade, pearl, amethyst crystals, moonstone, malachite crystals, or silver. And shade your head with a wide-brimmed hat.
Don’t work-out in the heat. Water sports like swimming are ideal for the summer. But save your exercise for the early morning or late evening.
Bask in the moonlight. In the evening, go for a walk on the beach (oh, how I wish) or in the cool green grass. Wear white clothes so you can absorb the moon’s cooling rays, which are soothing to the body’s heat.
Chill Out with Yoga. Good cooling postures include the fish, camel, boat, cobra, cow, and tree poses. Learn a yogic cooling breath. And don’t forget to meditate – it will lower your mental/emotional temperature too.
SuperCoach 