I debunk 4 myths about beating the heat that can be hazardous to your health.

Many people love summer and hot weather. However, with its onset, you have to think about how to protect yourself from heat stroke. Still, sometimes the temperature is like in a microwave. However, most of the popular life-saving advice is complete nonsense. And sometimes even harmful to human health. That's why today I'm going to debunk 4 myths about cooling in hot weather.

Cold drinks are a lifesaver

During the summer, most people crave a glass of ice water or cool coffee. However, contrary to popular belief, such drinks are far from the best solution. Although ice water will give you a temporary feeling of freshness, it will do your body a disservice when it comes to preventing overheating.

The feeling that the drink has made you feel less hot does not last long. Exactly as long as it takes the body to warm the incoming liquid. But under the influence of low temperature, blood vessels narrow. And this, in turn, leads to a decrease in blood supply throughout the body and a transition to a heat-saving mode. To put it simply: cold paradoxically heats up.

Oddly enough, a competent approach to escaping the heat lies in warm and even hot drinks. A liquid heated to a temperature of about 50 degrees does not at all interfere with the body’s natural thermoregulation. In addition, it stimulates increased sweat production.And it is already the body’s main weapon in the fight against overheating.

When it's hot you need to eat ice cream

Just like with water, eating cold foods prevents your body from responding properly to heat. However, the negative impact does not end there! In addition to the obstacles ice cream creates for natural thermoregulation, it also provokes the production of a hormone that causes thirst. Well, the process of breaking down fat requires a lot of energy from the body.

Foods low in calories but high in fiber and moisture will help make adaptation to the heat easier. Vegetables, fruits and berries should be a person's best friends during the warm season. It's corny, but it works.

Cold shower helps

The comfortable temperature range for humans is between 25 and 28 degrees. It’s no wonder that in hot weather you almost want to climb into an ice bath. However, the benefits of this procedure are only a common myth.

Receptors located on the skin are the first to respond to changes in temperature around. They transmit signals to the brain, thereby regulating the desired level of blood flow. When a person is hot, its intensity towards the surface of the skin increases, and when it is cold, it decreases. Thus, if you stand under an icy shower, the receptors on the skin will signal that the body has begun to freeze. Which, in turn, will slow down the process of heat transfer and block the natural cooling of the body.

However, this does not mean that you cannot swim in the heat. The best option at this time of year would be a shower with a temperature of about 33 degrees Celsius. This water feels barely warm.

You should drink only when you want

A small amount of moisture in the body leads to dehydration, overheating and heat stroke.However, thirst is not the most reliable indicator of lack of water in the body. Often, while in the sun, a person simply forgets to drink the required amount of water. The desire may simply be absent.

To prevent dehydration, you need to take a few sips of fluid every 15-20 minutes. An adult will have to drink up to three liters of water daily to maintain balance.

However, this issue should be approached wisely. Drinking too much liquid out of habit can only cause intoxication, nausea and dizziness. It is important to start drinking water with 2-3 glasses a day, gradually increasing the volume. By the way, this habit is useful not only in the warm season. After all, the body needs sufficient moisture all year round.