The warm Greek summers have made us discover a long list of alternative ways to cool off. Apart from the air conditioner, which is admittedly a solution on days of intense heat -although I personally don't like it much-, we have heard and applied various other ways in our attempt to cool ourselves. I remember a friend of mine saying that she used to sleep on the floor in the summer, because she claimed that it was cooler there than in her bed!
If you're not sure that the methods you hear about from time to time work either, you're in the right place. It's time to bust the myths and shine the light on the truths surrounding the issue of summer cooling alternatives.
Claim #1: Drink a cold beer
Myth: That a cold beer can cool us down is more of an excuse than a reality. Dietician Helen Bond says that drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is almost the worst thing we can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold. If we drink during the day outdoors, we are more likely to get burned because the pleasure of drinking can keep us pinned down in a spot under the sun.
«A couple of beers is fine, but no more. And drink a glass of water before, between and after each beer», says Bond.
Claim #2: Take a cold shower before bedtime
Myth: After a hot day, a cold shower before bedtime sounds tempting. As experts explain, the problem is that the body increases its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes us feel warmer once we've gone to bed. Instead, it's better to take a lukewarm shower so the body doesn't try to warm up.
Claim #3: Put your pillow in the freezer
Really: At first I thought it was funny. But the evidence shows that putting your pillow in the freezer can cool you down. Experts say we don't need to put the whole pillow in the freezer (it won't fit, after all). Just the pillowcase is enough. Dr Alannah Hare, a consultant at the National Health Service in the UK and a private sleep consultant, advises: «About an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillowcase in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then take it off just before you go to sleep and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin.».
Claim #4: Sleep naked
It depends: Dr Hare argues that if we wear clothes made from natural fibres, such as cotton, then we will feel cooler at night than if we were naked, because the cotton will wick sweat away from our skin. However, anything artificial or synthetic will make us feel warmer. The same rule applies to bedding.
Moreover, Dr Hare says that if he had the choice between wearing a cotton garment and sleeping naked, he would choose the former. But if it's a choice between wearing synthetic fabrics or sleeping naked, then let's choose to sleep without any clothes at all.
Claim #5: Avoid the sun
Myth: We have heard that on very hot days we should stay indoors and avoid the sun. But this is not true 100%. It is certainly not wise to sit under the midday sun for hours. However, as Bond says, «a short walk in which you expose your palms, face and arms to the sun will give you a fantastic amount of vitamin D to keep your levels high throughout the rest of the year.’.
Claim #6: Eat hot curry
True (but may not be true for everyone): It may seem contradictory at first thought, but on second thought it may seem logical that hot spices can cool us down. Especially considering that many of the world's spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates.
The theory is as follows: Hot, spicy foods, which usually contain chili, contain a chemical called capsaicin. When we eat it, our body heats up and we start to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes the heat from the body.
It is claimed that hot, spicy food keeps us cooler for longer than cold food does. But to sweat we need to stay hydrated, so drink plenty of water.
M. Gogu
