It is officially disgusting outside at the time of writing – 23°, but eleventy bajillion with the humidity. Walking out the door feels like wading into hot soup.
I don’t do well in this kind of weather, and neither does my hair, though I guess that’s not the end of the world.
Humidity makes a lot of us uncomfortable and cranky, and it can also be dangerous. If you’re active in the muggy outside air, stay hydrated and watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion: dark urine, dizziness, pale skin, confusion, headache and nausea. Here’s how to feel comfy and refreshed in humidity hell.
What the experts say
“Cooling herbs are used to cope with hot weather and prevent dehydration. Choose iced herbal teas made from hibiscus, Japanese honeysuckle flower, lemon balm, lemongrass, peppermint, and spearmint leaves. Chrysanthemum tea is a cooling Chinese drink that helps clear heat. I encourage my patients to consume mostly raw fruits and vegetables that have high water content: dark leafy greens, watercress, watermelon and celery. Adding lemons, limes, cucumber and fresh sliced oranges to water or iced tea is beneficial for reducing heat in the body.”
SARA CELIK
naturopath, Toronto
“Get up early to enjoy the cool mornings, or take moonlit walks. Massage daily with cooling coconut oil to nourish and clear heat from the skin. Wash off with a cool shower afterwards. Wear cooling, calming colours like white, green and blue that reflect heat, unlike orange, red and yellow. Incorporate visualization of peaceful, watery scenes of lakes or the sea into your meditation practice mentally repeat ‘om’ while you visualize. Shitali (or Sheetali) pranayama breathing is also effective: roll your tongue into a tube and inhale air through the tongue, exhaling through the nose. If you can’t roll your tongue [it’s a genetic thing], close your teeth together and inhale through the mouth. Practise 10 to 15 rounds each morning, or when you feel hot and bothered. Lunar pranayama, or breathing through the left nostril, is also cooling. Cooling nervines like gotu kola, brahmi, shatavari and jatamansi are helpful.”
JOANNA WEBBER
ayurvedic yoga teacher, Batcombe, UK
“The best foods during extreme heat and humidity are those high in water content and easy to digest: watermelon, dark leafy greens, cucumber, berries and peppers, to name a few. Don’t eat anything too high in protein or fat, as these macronutrients take a lot more energy to digest and cause a rise in body temperature. To avoid becoming dehydrated, cut back on diuretics like coffee and black tea (even the iced variety), pop, alcohol and energy drinks, and replace with coconut water, which is high in electrolytes, herbal tea, fresh juices and regular water. Adding spice to your meals can also cool you by making you sweat. Cook with turmeric for its cooling properties.”
TARA MILLER
nutritionist, Toronto
“For joint pains and arthritic flare-ups during humid weather, Rhus tox 30C can do wonders. Respiratory issues such as asthma may benefit from Natrum sulphuricum 30C or Natrum muriaticum 30C. Those who experience anxious sleeplessness during humid weather should consider Pulsatilla in a 30C potency. For overheating and sunstroke, Glonoinum 200C is the remedy.”
KERRY WALKER
homeopath, Toronto
“Drink 6 to 8 ounces of water before exercising and another 6 ounces every 15 minutes throughout. After, replace the water you lost. (You can lose 1 to 2 litres in an hour of exercise.) Mix powdered calcium, magnesium and potassium in the water you drink, or take these supplements before you exercise, because they get depleted. (You can lose 6 grams of potassium and 1 gram of calcium.)”
ZORANA ROSE
naturopath, Toronto
“Cooling power is associated with bitter and sour flavours. Bitter green salads are a start. Cucumber and melons like watermelon and cantaloupe are cooling. In Jamaica, hibiscus flowers are made into a tart, vitamin-rich red tea sweetened with honey that cools and refreshes. Red wine is heating unless it’s mixed with citrus fruits to make sangria. At my house we mix peppermint, hibiscus and lemon verbena for a cooling tea served hot.”
JOHN REDDEN
herbalist, Toronto
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