Help Your Body Cool Itself

Keeping cool during the hot summer months doesn't always require dropping the air conditioner down to 70 degrees. There are ways you can keep yourself cool without having to increase your energy use.

• Drink plenty of fluids - Keeping yourself hydrated is the body's natural way of keeping itself cool. Choose your drinks wisely by sticking with; water, fruit juices, vegetable juices, and sports drinks. Caffeinated beverages and alcohol contribute to dehydration.
  
  
• Eat small meals - The Red Cross states that eating smaller meals more frequently to help lower the heat from your body's metabolism. They also advocate avoiding high amounts of protein can help as well as protein increases this effect.
  
  
• Dress appropriately - Wear light-colored, loosely-woven clothing. Cotton is the best fabric for absorbing moisture and keeping the body cool. Also, wear a hat to shade your head
  
  
  Use cool water - Dampen a cool towel and wrap it around your neck. Applying a cool towel or ice to where you have a pulse point will also help cool you down. Lastly, you can mist yourself with cool water to lower your temperature and keep cool.
  
  
  Putting these tips to use can help save energy when the temperature rises. By making yourself naturally more comfortable in your environment, it becomes easier to set the air conditioner to that magical number of 78 degrees.