7 Cooling Foods To Reduce Body Heat

Some people run hot, and some people run cold. Those who run hot get especially frustrated if they’re hot sleepers who would prefer to cool down at night, and they might search their fridge for cooling foods to reduce body heat. Furthermore, those who live in hot, tropical climates where the weather is warm pretty much year-round could benefit from eating the types of foods to reduce body heat.

Your body heat can rise from heat stress, heatstroke or heat exhaustion, which is most common in parts of the world with very warm climates.

Are you wondering if there are any foods to reduce body heat? For those of you that run hot, the good news is, there are cooling foods that reduce body heat.

Research studies have revealed that the foods you eat often have thermic effects that influence your body heat. The human body undergoes thermogenesis when you eat, as the body emits a certain amount of heat to metabolize food. Hence, the type of food you eat could either reduce or induce body heat.

Foods to Reduce Body Heat: The Benefits

Eating the foods to reduce body heat is especially useful for people who live in perpetually warm, tropical climates. But it’s also highly beneficial to eat ‘cooling foods’ for those who have hot flashes due to menopause or hormonal imbalances. Eating these foods that reduce body heat could prevent the formation of embarrassing sweat stains, and prevent body temperatures getting uncomfortably high.  

Your body heat can rise due to internal and external influences. For example, you could have an increased body temperature due to internal issues like perimenopause or menopause, with corresponding hot flashes and night sweats. Hormonal imbalances are also a known culprit for hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating.

Meanwhile, external causes of high body temperature could be due to certain prescribed medications that increase body heat, or staying outside too long in the hot sun.

Exercising in the heat can certainly make your body temperature rise, as can wearing non-breathable, moisture-trapping clothing.

If you’re in need of a cool-down, below are the best foods to reduce body heat:

1. Watermelon

Watermelon is popular in the summer season for thermoregulation because it’s a very cooling food. This fruit lives up to its name because of its high water content, and foods to reduce body heat often are foods with a high water content. It could effectively combat external heat and bring internal body temperature down because it prevents dehydration.

2. Cucumber

Just like watermelon, cucumber has massive amounts of water content and it’s another one of the best cooling foods out there. Cucumber contains 97% water so it’s the perfect summer partner for cooling off. Cucumber is also loaded with fiber which could relieve constipation. The latter is a consequence of increased body heat, so eating this cooling food could stave off that problem. You can eat cucumber in salads, cold pastas, or mix it with smoothies and juices.

3. Coconut or Coconut Water

If your body feels scorching hot, coconut strips and coconut water could alleviate your hot flashes. Evidence suggests that coconut has natural cooling properties that could hydrate your body and balance temperature-generating electrolytes. Coconut water is an ultra-hydrating, refreshing, and excellent drink when you’re feeling hot, feverish or post-workout because it could help your body get back to its normal resting state. The electrolyte content is especially beneficial. It’s important to note that dehydration impacts your body’s ability to sweat and maintain normal body temperature, inhibiting you from cooling down. Lots of water-rich foods, water and coconut water will help.

4. Mint

If you want to neutralize the heat’s effect on the body, mint is a great herb to have on hand. You can add it to foods or beverages for a wonderful cooling effect. According to UC Health, mint and its organic compound menthol, triggers the same protein sensory receptors inside the mouth just like cold temperature. This means consuming mint could trick your body into feeling cold. You can add mint to fruit juices, drink it as tea, or enjoy a mint candy treat.

5. Berries

Berries such as blueberries and strawberries are great cooling foods to reduce body heat. You see, berries are alkaline, which generate cold energy and help reduce your body temperature. The antioxidants in berries also help cool down the body.

6. Chili

Everyone associates the spicy chili pepper with something hot. And that’s not surprising because it fires up your mouth and belly. However, the truth is peppers lower the body temperature. According to studies, peppers contain capsaicin which signals to the brain that your body is overheating. As a result, you sweat more than usual. When your body eliminates sweat, that means temperature goes down. So contrary to popular belief, chili has a cooling effect.

7. Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits like lemons, grapefruits and oranges are rich in Vitamin C, which helps break up the food in your stomach, aiding digestion. Citrus fruits also have antioxidants that provide a cooling effect for your body. Since these fruits help your body digest food, you’re likely to notice cooling benefits since your body doesn’t require as much energy when it’s having an easier time digesting.

Which Foods To Reduce Body Heat Should You Be Eating?

If you’re wondering which of the cooling foods that reduce body heat might work best for you, take a CircleDNA test to find out which types of foods suit your body best.

This at-home DNA test could help you understand how your body responds to certain foods based on your own unique DNA. The CircleDNA test reports offer insight on foods you may need more of based on your DNA, foods you may need to avoid, and the optimal diet plan for you, based on your genetic makeup. This includes information about possible nutritional deficiencies you might be at risk of due to your DNA.

References:

1. Brown Adipose Tissue, Diet-Induced Thermogenesis, and Thermogenic Food Ingredients: From Mice to Men (Masayuki Saito et.al.) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7186310/
2. Surprising Foods That Toy With Body Temperature (Amanda Taselaar & Alexandra Sifferlin) https://healthland.time.com/2013/06/15/surprising-foods-that-toy-with-body-temperature/
3. Ginger consumption enhances the thermic effect of food and promotes feelings of satiety without affecting metabolic and hormonal parameters in overweight men: A pilot study (Muhammad Mansur et.al.) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3408800/
4. Rehydration after exercise with fresh young coconut water, carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and plain water (Mohamed Saat) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12056182/
5. Mint Tricks the Body Into Feeling Cool (Bill St. John) https://www.uchealth.org/today/mint-tricks-the-body-into-feeling-cool/
6. Effect of capsaicin on thermoregulation: an update with new aspects (Janos Szolcsanyi)  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843897/