Dealing with the heat of summer w/no A.C.

[Betsy]

Does raw help others to deal with 110 + degrees summer heat? Today I am fining it is tolerable, but still uncomfortable.

What are your ideas to survive the summer heat that is a part of your healthy living plan? We just recently moved to a much hotter place and I am attempting to not use the A.C. at all this summer, but today is tempting me to do otherwise! Arizona is not a place for the sun/heat sensitive older person, is it?:) Oh, well. Ideas, please? Thanks in advance, all!

[Raw Yogini]

I read in a book once that greens are cooling, maybe up the greens.

[cara4art]

Since it's an unusually hot day with it being 94 right now in San Francisco, I can relate. Been guzzling cold water this afternoon with lemon juice added to it - it really does help cool one down, plus it is alkalizing, a great bonus anytime. Lime water helps too. As well as drinking plenty of water, and eating high-water containing foods, easing up on fatty stuff can help, as this tends to be too warming for some folks in hot weather. Pump the greens too. Now's the time for those big salads, and so easy to throw together in this weather - added bonus of the raw food lifestyle - no hot kitchen - LOL! But the importance of staying well-hydrated cannot be overemphasized, especially for older folks who are more sensitive to temperature extremes and tend to be in a chronic state of dehydration anyway. This is where the raw food way of eating along with plenty of water comes in.
Some non-food ways of keeping one's place reasonably comfortable are the traditional customs of opening the windows at night when it is cooler, closing most of them in the morning, and pulling down shades, especially on sides of your place that have sun exposure - this does really make a difference! Wearing a cool water-soaked bandanna around your neck is surprisingly helpful, as running cold water over one's wrists. Planning activities for either quite early in the am. and near sunset make a lot of sense as well - in AZ you DON'T want to have to be out in the mid-day sun.And since you just got there, you are acclimating, so be easy on yourself - it's a harsh climate! I lived in New Mexico for 12 years, higher up, but still hot in the summer. But depending on what kind of housing you have, an A/C alternative that is used throughout the southwest is an evaporative aka swamp cooler - much cheaper to run than A/C. When it gets in the high 90s and above, simple fans don't do much other than blow hot air around.
Hope this helps - stay cool if you can!

[Rawkinlocs]

I've found that a nice cool bath with a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil (do NOT be heavy-handed with the peppermint oil! :eek: You've been warned!) is a nice way of staying cool.

It may not last for a long time, but I've found relief with it. Either that or some Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castle Soap...again, just a little bit.

[Betsy]

Thanks for the replies!;)

The peppermint idea sounds cool~ and upping the greens is a very good idea, lots of minerals!!

[Anastazia]

When I moved to Texas, I learned a few helpful things...one, have a warm shower, then end it with cool, cool, COLD for as long as you can stand! I'd do that throughout the day, & then a little while before bed, it keeps ya cool for a few hours...

...dress light! I'm pretty abundantly endowed, so I also put a COLD hand towel, stretched out in my bra under my breasts! Works great!

Cucumbers & celery & watermelon also cool you off. In fact I heard of people doing marathons in the heat with no problems (while others were quitting or passing out!) because of drinking cucumber celery juice!!!

Also, keep your hair wet if you can't go have a shower, just get a thick brush & wet it with cold water repeatedly until your hair is soaked...then just do it again when it gets warm...if you have to go out, just cover with a bandana...even a COLD WET one! *grin*

That's all I can think of for now! We're having record-breaking heat today, 33 degrees! But my new basement suite is nice & cool, didn't even have to pull out the fan!!! Woohoo! Thank-you God, I barely survived last summer's heat! It's almost as hot here as Texas!!!

~Anastazia~

[snowdrop]

Does raw help others to deal with 110 + degrees summer heat? Today I am fining it is tolerable, but still uncomfortable.

What are your ideas to survive the summer heat that is a part of your healthy living plan? We just recently moved to a much hotter place and I am attempting to not use the A.C. at all this summer, but today is tempting me to do otherwise! Arizona is not a place for the sun/heat sensitive older person, is it?:) Oh, well. Ideas, please? Thanks in advance, all!

i hate being hot!
i noticed a direct correlation between sugar intake and being hot... don't do it! :eek:
being raw does help. how can eating fresh raw juicy things do any less?
viva la raw!
(i guess that may be 3 languages crossed- but i think you get the spirit :) )
xoxoxo
snow