Ideas to beat the heat?

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Image credit: Ryan Cheng. This image is published under this Creative Common license.

With the summer already having set in heavily in Chennai (and most other parts of India), I think we need to take a re-look at the various ways in which we can beat the heat. That way, we can learn the best practices from each other. I will mention the things I do and I am aware of (to reduce the effect of the summer heat), and you people can contribute more in the comments section.

I am concerned about two things during summer – Reducing body heat and reducing the effect of external heat (cooling ourselves). The following points might help in either of the two.

  1. Drinking tender coconut water (Elanir)
  2. Drinking pomegranate juice (Madhulai) and lime juice
  3. Eating water melon and nungu
  4. Eating curd-rice and drinking butter milk
  5. Applying oil over head (I really like the new Parachute Advansed Cooling oil – try it, its too good) twice, on normal days
  6. Taking oil-bath during week ends (sometimes twice in a week)
  7. Buying an inverter (to keep the fan running during power cuts)
  8. Pour some water on the terrace during evenings/sleep in the terrace
  9. Avoiding Tea/coffee and anything hot (hot in temperature, hot in taste)
  10. Avoiding mangoes, cane-juice, jack fruit

Ok, these are what I can think of, right now. Kindly give your suggestions in the comments section.

Destination Infinity

20 thoughts on “Ideas to beat the heat?

  1. Sandhya Kumar

    Watering on the terrace works well. Taking oil bath is very good. Why not eat mangoes, cane juice and jack fruit. We are supposed to eat the seasonal fruits liberally. It helps the body to balance the ingredients it needs.

    Nice compilation, D.I.

    1. Rajesh K

      I thought mangoes, jack fruit and cane juice increase the body heat. Of course, there is nothing wrong on eating them occasionally.

      Destination Infinity

      1. Sandhya Kumar

        I forgot to mention, D.I. The kingfisher picture is lovely for this heat!

  2. sm

    all tips are excellent

    1. Rajesh K

      Thank you, any more to add?

      Destination Infinity

  3. Kirtivasan

    Taking oil bath is nice way to beat heat.
    My mother uses Navratna oil, developed by Kabiraj Bhattacharya. She finds it cooling.

    1. Rajesh K

      I was using the earlier (normal) parachute oil, it was cooling to a certain extent but the smell was not good. This new one is awesome. It also reduces head-aches due to long computer usage, for me!

      Destination Infinity

  4. Kirtivasan

    Sun is very strong indeed during summer.
    One should be thankful to nature for giving relief by giving breeze in evenings and a lovely night time.

    1. Rajesh K

      Evening are ok, but Lovely nights? In Chennai, even the night temperature is very high and we have to suffer. I think its because of the high humidity levels.

      Destination Infinity

  5. Bikram

    How much i would love ot be that kingfisher 🙂 beautiful picture

    loved the points you have made 🙂

    hope you are taking care and getting away from the heat

    1. Rajesh K

      Although I am concerned about heat, heat doesn’t bother me as much as cold does. I prefer heat to cold. No wonder I have been put in this city! 🙂

      Destination Infinity

  6. Vaish

    Pouring water on the terrace is a good idea. Drinking water from mud pot is also good.
    To avoid sun burns, put sunscreen lotions, or carry umbrella with you..
    Wear light colored cotton dresses…avoid black clothes if you are travelling a lot…
    And take bath as many times as you can!

    1. Rajesh K

      Thanks for those additional tips. I am going to take an umbrella where ever I go.

      Destination Infinity

  7. Jas

    Great ideas.. although I also don’t like to drink tea coffee in hot weather but actually it works opposite. It brings the body temperature down. 🙂

    1. Rajesh K

      Good. Thanks for giving me one more excuse to keep drinking Tea everyday, which I am doing presently 🙂 The milk bikis go so well with tea 😀

      Destination Infinity

  8. kanagu

    Play or do exercise as much as you can… thereby we ourselves will bath more.. take all the juices and fruits you mentioned to keep ourselves cool 🙂

    Even though mango, jack fruit and cane juice as said to be heat fruits I don’t mind having them a lot. I like every one of them 😀 😀 there are some seasons I had at least a mango/day 🙂

    ur tips are good.. I will try the cooling oil and as vaish said wear light coloured clothes.. it will be helpful.. 🙂

    1. Rajesh K

      Thanks for all those useful tips.

      Destination Infinity

  9. Rahul Aggarwal

    i agree to all the points you mentioned Rajesh…very well written except the last 1 about mangoes…but thanks to the soaring rates…i think so i have to give up on them .. sigh 🙁

  10. Reema

    avoiding mangoes in summer??? so when we will eat them? in winter? 😀 Mangoes are the only positive point about summer!

    1. Rajesh K

      I agree, but mangoes slightly increase the body heat.

      Destination Infinity

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