As the weather heats up, don’t count plan to stay indoors by your air conditioner or swamp cooler to keep cool. Take a look at these great tips from Mother Nature Network for how to keep cool in unusual ways.

Keep Cool with Water

Keep cool with water!

We’re all about proper hydration during the warm months of the year but you can also utilize cool water from your tap to prevent overheating. Chill your pulse points by running cold water over your wrists and splash your temples with cool water for the same effect. You may have had a mother bring you a cold cloth when you were sick as a child and that’s a great idea during the summer as well. If you’re feeling overheated or struggling to stay cool, wet a cloth and apply it to your forehead to bring your internal temperatures down a bit. Peppermint oil also has a cooling effect; consider mixing it with a carrier oil and applying it to your temples for a cooling sensation.

Eat to Sweat and Keep Cool

It seems strange to me to plan to have a meal that’s spicy to induce sweating but scientist tout the effect of sweating during a meal to cool the body through evaporation. Latin America, Thailand, and India are some of the world’s hottest places and they happen to serve some of the hottest foods. Coincidence? The capsaicin, a chemical in hot peppers, encourages sweating without raising your body temperature.

Go Tropical to Keep Cool

Loose, lightweight cotton or linen clothing is a great option all summer long. While long sleeves may seem like a bad idea during the warmer months, you’ll be protecting your body from the sun while naturally staying cool. Keep your shirt untucked to promote the circulation of air and to keep cool. The guayabera, or “Mexican wedding shirt”, as well as Filipino barongs, Madras, and even the American classic seersucker, are all great choices for this tip.

Graze to Keep Cool

Avoid a feast to keep cool!

Protein-laden meals force your body to start up your metabolic fire in order to break down what’s in your stomach. Ever notice how you feel hot sometimes after a big meal, even if the dish wasn’t hot? Save your body the heat by grazing on smaller, more frequent meals; you’ll feel cooler and it’s better for you.

Keep Cool Under the Covers

That hot water bottle you take to bed in the winter or use for sore joints can serve as an ice water bottle as well. Filling your bottle with ice and water to take to bed with you is a great way to avoid uncomfortable summer sleep. Try using the bottle to cool your ankles or behind your knees to get an instant cooling effect. Want to take it to the next level? Some people have reported great luck in bagging their sheets and putting them into the freezer for a couple of hours before bed! Keeping your head cool is a great way to keep your body cool so that cool rag mentioned above is a great item to bring to bed as well as choosing a cool, absorbent pillow made of organic cotton if possible.

Following these tips this summer will help to keep you cool, even without the use of air conditioning or a swamp cooler. Try creative ideas to bring your body temperature down and you’ll be able to ward off the heat while keeping your bill costs down. One of my favorite methods to cool myself off is with a foot bath. I add a few drops of peppermint essential oil and ice to a tub and soak my feet while relaxing in the shade.

Tell us here what do you do to keep cool and be sure to check out part one and two of our healthy summer tips as well as items to include in a summer first aid kit!