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How to Beat the Heat

Steve Artressia
 

There’s a lot to do when the weather is right: family picnics, a homerun derby on the softball field, endless hours on the golf course, or lounging in your backyard hammock.

However, too much fun in the sun can be dangerous. Excessive heat exposure can cause dehydration. Dehydration, in turn, can cause dangerous conditions, such as:

 Try a few of these simple precautions, and you’ll still be going strong as the leaves start to turn.

The right type of clothing

Choose light colors over darker ones if your primary goal is staying cool.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are chic and functional. They prevent UV rays from scorching your corneas and will protect your eyes for many more summers to come.

Hats

A hat is a smart and practical summer fashion choice. Throwing on a wide-brimmed hat prevents UV rays from hitting the sensitive spots on your face, and it keeps your skin looking wrinkle-free.

Sunscreen

Nothing knocks good days off a summer calendar like a nasty sunburn. When outdoors, use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Use a higher-rated, waterproof sunscreen if you’ll be poolside or out on the beach.

Lip balm

Just like how sunscreen protects the rest of your skin, a lip balm with SPF protection blocks out the sun and keeps in moisture for your lips — great for a day on the lake or while you’re working on that summer romance.

Sip water throughout the day

Don’t wait until you’re thirsty! Drink water throughout the day to prevent dehydration or over exhaustion.

Use the color of your urine to guide whether you’re hydrated enough — the clearer, the better.

Choose sugar-free juice

All-natural juice without added sugar not only provides hydration, but it also has important nutrients to keep you active and nourished in hot weather. Vitamin C is just one of them.

Avoid alcohol

While an ice-cold cocktail — complete with a little paper umbrella — might sound good on the beach, it won’t be as refreshing to your body. That’s because alcohol only dehydrates you more.

Did you know?Coffee may be just as hydrating as water, at least according to a small 2014 studyTrusted Source of male coffee drinkers.

The study was split into short two trials. In one trial, the participants received nearly 3.5 cups of coffee a day. In the other trial, they received water.

At the end of the study, the researchers didn’t observe any significant differences in metrics that would signal dehydration, such as total body water or 24 hour urine volume.