Feeling hot, hot, hot? With the UK heatwave blazing down, it’s crucial to find creative ways to keep cool! While chugging water is a no-brainer, here’s a tip that athletes live by: peppermint! 🌿💧
Alexander Matveenko, a climate tech expert, shares that swishing peppermint in your mouth can create an instant cooling sensation. Fancy science alert: menthol in peppermint triggers your body’s cold receptors, making you feel refreshingly cool all over. Who knew?! 🥶🌬️
Backing this up is a 2021 study from the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. It revealed athletes using menthol gel felt cooler, and in some cases, their stamina even improved a smidge during workouts! 🏃♀️💪
Yet, it appears menthol mainly tweaks your perception of heat rather than affecting things like core body temperature or sweat levels. Peppermint—cultivating coolness without a single ice cube in sight! 🧊
Nutritionist Simone Thomas chimes in, suggesting growing peppermint in your garden or grab it inexpensively at the supermarket. If hot tea isn’t your thing in the heat, freeze peppermint into ice cubes or simply add fresh mint to water. Easy-peasy, minty-breezy! 🌿🧊
Meanwhile, sleep expert Maryanne Taylor offers golden advice to maintain hydration and minimise nightly bathroom sprints: indulge in water-rich snacks like cucumber and watermelon, and consume less liquid close to bedtime. Catch those Z’s and stay cool! 😴🥒🍉
What are your go-to tricks for beating the heat? Share your cool-down tips in the comments! ⬇️💬 Keep calm and peppermint on! 🌿✨