Foods to Keep You Cool By Anita BrikmanJuly

14, 2006 - What you eat and drink can help you keep cool during the summer heat.

First off, we all know to drink plenty of water and other fluids in a heat wave. But how much? Chiropractor Jeffrey Sklar of the Triune Wellness Center, uses a simple rule of thumb.

Jeffrey Sklar, D.C./Triune Wellness Center: "Take your weight, divide it in half and drink that many ounces of water."
So a 130 pound woman should drink about 65 ounces, which equals about 8 cups. Gurneet Singh, an acupuncturist with the practice, says according to traditional Chinese medicine, the most cooling summer foods also have a higher water content.

Gurneet Singh, RAC/ www.Lotus-Healing.com (her office is located in the Triune Wellness Center): "Think about fruits that when you bite into them they are very juicy, very tasty."
Items like that are apples, peaches, nectarines and oranges and other citrus fruits. As for vegetables, eat more leafy greens, tomatoes and celery. Those are all easy for the body to break down.

"You're also getting a lot of great vitamins, mineral, micronutrients and antioxidants, which are going to help protect your skin a little bit."
Singh advises cutting back on meats, which are harder to digest, and getting more protein from beans. And surprisingly, spices, like ginger, or hot peppers boost the body's own cooling mechanism.

"Add a pinch, sweat a little bit, but then cool off afterward."
Another surprise, limit super-cold foods, like ice cream or ice cold drinks. Those things actually make you feel more sluggish.

"Your digestive system actually likes things to be a little bit warm, so if you can choose it's probably a little better that your liquids are at room temperature."
Two other cooling pieces of advice: don't stop exercising on hot days, but maybe switch to a more gentle type, like walking or yoga. And try some herbal teas like chrysanthemum, mint or chamomile. Add ice and a little honey, for a healthy ice tea without caffeine.