Stay Cool in the Summer

With hot weather quickly approaching and average temperatures getting hotter and hotter, finding new methods to stay cool in the summer is critical. Luckily, the scorching summer months don't last all year, but many people don't have the advantage of working or living in an air conditioned building. This can lead to health problems in the young and elderly and general discomfort in just about anyone. If you are one of these unlucky folks, read on for some great ideas to stay cool in the summer.

There are many obvious methods to stay cool in the summer. Drink lots of water, go swimming, or go to the mall, but there are some other methods that work well, too. What about the food you eat? Or the lightbulbs in your house? Or portable air conditioning units? These ideas may seem strange at first, but when applied will work wonders.

Read on for more tips on how to stay cool in the summer.

Preparing and eating raw food has many health benefits, as well as keeping you and your house cool. Operating cooking appliances during the peak hours of the day will heat your house tremendously. Ovens tend to heat a house the fastest, and stovetop woks will as well.  Avoiding hot appliances will help you stay cool in the summer.

Eating a cool meal of fresh fruits and vegetables will keep your body temperature down and help you stay cool in the summer. A simple salad, or slaw makes a great summer dinner to eat on the patio while your house is cooling down. Avoiding spicy food will help as well. This doesn't directly affect temperature, but spicy food will add to the uncomfortable feeling of being hot.

Avoiding alcohol and caffeine will also keep you cool by maintaining your hydration. Anything that makes you pee as much as coffee and beer do will dehydrate you very quickly.

Incandescent light bulbs put off a ton of heat, and will make the temperature of your house rise very quickly. Switching to compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs will keep the temperature in check. The added benefit to switching is the money that you will save on your utility bill. CFL's only use a fraction of the energy that incandescent bulbs do, which will quickly offset their increased initial price.  They will help your house and you stay cool in the summer.

Portable air conditioning is the perfect appliance to get you through a heat wave and help you stay cool in the summer. They can be moved around the house as needed (if there is a window nearby for exhaust). These units only cost a fraction of what a central AC unit does, and requires no modification to your house.

If the summer is unbearable and you don't have and can't install air conditioning, portable AC is the answer!