Keeping it cool in the Sun!

Where'd the rain go? i thought this was the rainy season, but noooo, the blazing sun just had to make an appearance! Maybe this is what they mean by climate change....So now that plans and your wardrobe must change, below are a few ways on how to keep cool and hydrated in the heat!

• Water -  the most important and obvious way to keep cool & cheap! Get yourself a water bottle, found in every supermarket- they go for about KES 150/- moving up. just fill up your bottle on your way out to work and you can just sip at it all day.
• Aim for foods with high water content to supplement your water intake. look for mainly red - pigmented fruits  & vegetables which contain Lycopene, such as Red hoho, Tomatoes and my favorite....dark chocolate! (That's what the experts said!)
• Melons! Lot's  & lot's of Melons! They are a very juicy & tasty & healthy way to hydrate. And Melons are so red they are fun to eat! especially for the little ones, if you cannot get them to drink water cut these up into tiny fun shapes for them to nibble on. with its 92% water content, they tend to make you feel full too. OH- they are in season, Mangoes too!
• For those who do not like water or prefer a little taste to your water, you may have a natural sports drink. they contain carbohydrates which provide energy and electrolytes that get lost in your sweat. You may also opt for fruit juices, they too provide electrolytes and are nutritious without adding unnecessary calories to your diet.

Now, for a few things to avoid;

• Alcohol. It is a diuretic, all it does is dehydrate you even more leaving your body tired, your skin dry & flaky and your liver overworked. If you would like to have a drink, take it in stride with water to balance the levels in your system. Having a hang over on a hot day is not a great way to spend your day...
• Caffeine has the same effect as alcohol, it dehydrates you. so instead of your usual tea or coffee in the offices, have hot chocolate or juice instead.
• It would also be good to steer away from spicy foods - you know that heat wave that you get when you are having kachumbari at the local and you bite on the hidden pili pili?? Capsacin causes a short term rise in body temperature. You need that warmth when it starts raining again!

You may also want to eat light before you step out, heavy foods take a lot of energy to digest, raising your body temperature too. Enjoy the brief "summer" time!