Everyone makes these 3 mistakes when it's hot, they prevent the body from cooling down
France is sweltering under a heatwave alert for several days. This heat puts the body under strain, especially when you have bad reflexes. While these may feel good at the time, some are counterproductive and can even endanger your health.
First mistake: very cold drinks. When it's hot, it's one of the things we crave most: a nice, cold drink. Admittedly, it gives a particularly pleasant feeling of freshness. But in the long run, it's a bad idea. When you drink a very cold drink, it tricks the brain into thinking your body is cooler, which isn't the case. The body then reduces its temperature-regulating mechanism, sweating, and therefore the body is less able to cool itself down.
It's even worse when it comes to alcohol, sugary drinks, coffee, or tea. These drinks are dehydrating and/or diuretic (i.e., they increase urine production), which again reduces the body's ability to maintain its temperature at 37°. Ideally, you should drink room-temperature water throughout the day, without waiting until you feel thirsty.
Second mistake: ice cream. As with drinks that are too cold, ice cream, while particularly pleasant in hot weather, does more harm than good. In hot weather, it's best to avoid foods that are too cold and instead eat light, focusing on fruits and vegetables rich in water, such as watermelon, cucumber, melon, strawberries, or green salads.
Third and final mistake to avoid: cold showers. When we're hot, we dream about them. But once again, this reflex we all have is a bad idea. Indeed, cold water on the body cools it down quickly. And to compensate, it will produce heat. Also, cold water constricts blood vessels, which have more difficulty evacuating heat to the outside. Too much thermal shock can even be dangerous. To cool down lastingly, the ideal is to take a lukewarm shower, and not dry off afterward. The water on the body will take a little time to evaporate, which will help it cool down.
L'Internaute
