13 May,2009 08:55 AM IST | | Shikha Shah
Rather than play the AC on full blast, cool down from the inside with our comprehensive guide to tackling the summer heat with easy ideas that take care of your scalp, digestive system, face, skin and feet
It's hotter than it was last year. Even if this sounds like a record playing in loop, what you really need to do is stop whining and work out a cooling plan for your body. Nutritionist Aanchal Achpalya says, the easiest way out is to junk packaged foods and load up on fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in water content like melons, cucumber and tomatoes; all natural hydrators that keep body temperature even.
>>Cut down on fried foods that are high in fat content. Fat has a thermal effect and makes you sluggish.
>>Swap cola with Buttermilk and Lemon Juice. Add cooling sabza (tulsi seeds) in your Lemon Juice, Coconut >>Water and Iced Tea. Kokam juice acts as an anti-allergic agent.
>>Replace a heavy dinner for a cold soup.
>>Cut down on chilli, pepper and garam masala that can irritate your digestive system. Season dishes with coriander, jeera seeds and mint leaves instead. They act as digestives.
>>Eat a bowl of curd every day; it contains protein in pre-digested form and is rich in B complex.
>>If you crave ice cream, go for a low cal sorbet.
Your scalp
Postpone chemical hair treatments till October
Rekha Yadav, Trichologist, Revital Trichology Centre
Trim damaged ends of your hair if you like wearing it long, or better still, opt for a short crop in summer. Carry a scarf, cap or an umbrella while stepping out in the sun.
Before you go swimming, wet your hair, cover it with a thin layer of conditioner that you must leave in until you shower after your swim.
Avoid a hot water hairwash. Instead of shampooing your hair frequently, sprinkle some baby powder on your hair and comb it to absorb excess oil.
Ignore the itch to go blonde in summer. The chemical treatments will only add to damage. Stay away from blow-dryers and hot curlers.
Dry hair mask
Apply mayonnaise on your scalp and leave it in for 15 to 30 minutes, your head wrappedu00a0 in a towel, before you wash it with shampoo.
Your face
Milk powder facial lightens skin naturally
Kiran Bawa, cosmotologist at IOSIS Spa
The oil glands in your skin work overtime during summer, leaving your face looking oily. It's best to use water-based rather than oil or cream based cosmetics.
To beat the sluggish feeling, make a quick vegetable juice: blend bottle gourd, carrot, tomatoes and beetroot, add a pinch of rock salt. This yummy drink also aids weight loss.
If you decide to visit a spa, opt for organic facials that use banana, honey and milk powder. Milk powder contains lactic acid and acts as whitening agent.
Homemade face pack
Mix some aloe vera gel (available at most pharmacies) with fresh cucumber juice, and rub the paste on your face. Both are cooling agents and will help eliminate redness and zits.
Your skin
Bathe in buttermilk to beat sunburn
Shahnaz Hussain, Mid Day's beauty expert
Cleanse your skin before going to bed to keep the pores free of oil. If you've suffered sunburn, apply yoghurt or buttermilk on your skin and rinse after 20 minutes.u00a0 Or crush sesame seeds (til), and soak in water overnight. Strain the water next morning and use the liquid as a wash.
Out-of-fridge Body mask
Apply papaya pulp on your skin like a mask, and wash after 20 minutes. It contains enzymes that help soften and clear dead skin cells.
Your feet
Paint your toe nails occasionally
Amit Sinha, Senior Manager, My Foot Reflexology
Reflexology helps you de-stress. It works on your feet but impacts the whole body since our feet have 64 pressure points that are connected to various organs. A reflexology session, available at all spas, helps clear crystals leading to a smooth flow of blood through your body.
Topu00a02 tips
>>Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 on your feet.
>>Do not apply fresh nail paint as soon as you decide to get rid of the old one.
Your digestive system
Sip on jaggery-ginger drink
Dr Ravi Kothari, Ayurveda expert
Digestive tract problems are synonymous with summer. Drink a glass of lime juice every day; it works as a quick energiser. Or you can take 4 glasses of plain water, add 4 tsp of jaggery, 1 tsp dry ginger. Stir to let the jaggery melt. Sip this drink throughout the day. It avoids
nausea, headaches and vomiting.
Jaldi summer cooler
Add dried black raisins, 5 tsp rock sugar and 5 tsp fennel seeds to some water. Let it soak for 4 to 6 hours. Blend in a mixie, strain and drink it.
