Sweat it Out: How an Extra Spicy Summer can actually cool you down.
Whoever said sweating wasn’t sexy hasn’t seen Ryan Gosling in his latest shirtless chick flick. If you like to live on the more daring 50 shades side of life like me then embrace the following snack suggestions as summer turns up the heat on us. Wait, you want us to eat more hot stuff while it already feels like Satan’s furnace outside? That’s exactly right. Spicy foods like your favorite Thai dishes laden with capsaicin-containing chili peppers are known for aiding in circulation- couple this with the raised temperature your body is experiencing from the elevated degrees outside and you’re fast on your way to a sweat session without ever entering the gym.
So why am I telling you to eat things with “Ragin’-cajun” and “5 alarm-fire” in the title all summer long? Eating spicy foods raises your internal body temperature, causing you to sweat more. While it’s uncomfortably hot outside, eating hot foods helps raise your body temperature to meet the external air temperature and lessens the discrepancy between external and internal temperature, and the body will cool as your sweat evaporates. At this point you might be calling it quits – lady you want us to sweat even more while we already look like a bad scene from Survivor? Yes. Keep reading. The faster your body can sweat the faster you’re going to cool down - and stay cool. Those refreshing fro-yo treats and iced teas might feel good for a minute but they aren’t actually helping you stay refreshed. Why?
When you opt for that ice cream bar it’s a quick fix but as it cools your body temperature rapidly your internal system responds by again raising your body’s internal temperature – making you even hotter and perpetuating the cycle. While it might sound uncomfortable, you’re better off grabbing a snack that stimulates sweating more- as the sweating will only last short term and you’ll stay cooler longer than you would if you went for that icy-pop.
An added bonus? Hot snacks like capsicum peppers are also high in vitamin C and will do a better job of cooling you down than those boring old orange slices ever could. Embrace the summer heat in all sorts of ways -humidity is also great for hydrating the skin (hello free spa treatment just from being outside?). Give your skin an added boost by packing in a serving of carrots with that spicy dip (see list below) and you’ll be glowing like you just stepped out of a Turkish bathhouse, without the costly price tag. Carrots contain beta-carotene and just a half-cup per day can give your skin a natural rosy glow. As the temperatures kick into high gear over the next few months, get creative with your sweat-inducing snacks.
You don't have to munch on a stack of jalapeno peppers for this to work. Instead, try incorporating some foods with spicy properties into dishes you might already be whipping up for that rooftop BBQ. There's a good chance you’ll be doling out some guac and chips (whole grain please!) for a group get together- throw in some red onions and chopped jalapenos into the guacamole or dip for a little extra flavor and sweat inducing kick. Afraid of running into your local Adonis at the soiree? Don't worry I’ve got you covered. Grab one of the iced drinks on the list below to help you achieve that smoldering look and you can offer him or her one to "cool" down.
1. Spicy Spritzer: You can still feel tropical while you get your sweat on. Try mixing cucumber, pineapple, green chili peppers, cayenne pepper, lime or lemon juice, and a dash of club soda together for a refreshing and zesty drink.
2. Give your Bloody Mary a reason to scream: Add in a few extra dashes of your favorite hot sauce (I like CaJohn’s Happy Beaver), some blended Jalapeno peppers, and a teaspoon of horseradish. This should wake you up on a Sunday morning!
3. Throw some sprinkles of cayenne pepper atop deviled eggs for your afternoon picnic.
4. Grilling up some Mexican on the deck? Fajitas or salsa are a great way to add in that extra kick. If you’re a hot sauce fan this is an easy way to take your spices up a notch and throw in some diced fresh chilis, chili powder, cilantro (contains low levels of capsaicin) or onions and fresh garlic to that taco sauce or salsa. If you’re going for a lighter fish taco and making a homemade white sauce just throw together some lemon juice and horseradish to achieve that kick.
5. Roast poblano peppers on the grill with garlic, onions and cilantro.
6. You might not think of regular old bell peppers as that hot but they still contain the circulation inducing property capsaicin- coring these and stuffing them with seafood, rice, or your favorite salad of choice is a nice summery meal option that won’t have the sweat pouring off your forehead if you really have a date to impress but will still give you that internal circulatory boost.
*Disclaimer: While raising the heat in your food choices is a great way to “stay cool” it’s equally important to maintain proper hydration- remember that dewy skin? You don’t want to be that guy passing out on the subway platform. Just think of what falling onto a disease-heavy subway floor would do to your nicely humidified visage. Always remember to drink plenty of water with your extra spicy snacks- especially with anything alcoholic, as this will dehydrate the body more.
Whoever said sweating wasn’t sexy hasn’t seen Ryan Gosling in his latest shirtless chick flick. If you like to live on the more daring 50 shades side of life like me then embrace the following snack suggestions as summer turns up the heat on us. Wait, you want us to eat more hot stuff while it already feels like Satan’s furnace outside? That’s exactly right. Spicy foods like your favorite Thai dishes laden with capsaicin-containing chili peppers are known for aiding in circulation- couple this with the raised temperature your body is experiencing from the elevated degrees outside and you’re fast on your way to a sweat session without ever entering the gym.
So why am I telling you to eat things with “Ragin’-cajun” and “5 alarm-fire” in the title all summer long? Eating spicy foods raises your internal body temperature, causing you to sweat more. While it’s uncomfortably hot outside, eating hot foods helps raise your body temperature to meet the external air temperature and lessens the discrepancy between external and internal temperature, and the body will cool as your sweat evaporates. At this point you might be calling it quits – lady you want us to sweat even more while we already look like a bad scene from Survivor? Yes. Keep reading. The faster your body can sweat the faster you’re going to cool down - and stay cool. Those refreshing fro-yo treats and iced teas might feel good for a minute but they aren’t actually helping you stay refreshed. Why?
When you opt for that ice cream bar it’s a quick fix but as it cools your body temperature rapidly your internal system responds by again raising your body’s internal temperature – making you even hotter and perpetuating the cycle. While it might sound uncomfortable, you’re better off grabbing a snack that stimulates sweating more- as the sweating will only last short term and you’ll stay cooler longer than you would if you went for that icy-pop.
An added bonus? Hot snacks like capsicum peppers are also high in vitamin C and will do a better job of cooling you down than those boring old orange slices ever could. Embrace the summer heat in all sorts of ways -humidity is also great for hydrating the skin (hello free spa treatment just from being outside?). Give your skin an added boost by packing in a serving of carrots with that spicy dip (see list below) and you’ll be glowing like you just stepped out of a Turkish bathhouse, without the costly price tag. Carrots contain beta-carotene and just a half-cup per day can give your skin a natural rosy glow. As the temperatures kick into high gear over the next few months, get creative with your sweat-inducing snacks.
You don't have to munch on a stack of jalapeno peppers for this to work. Instead, try incorporating some foods with spicy properties into dishes you might already be whipping up for that rooftop BBQ. There's a good chance you’ll be doling out some guac and chips (whole grain please!) for a group get together- throw in some red onions and chopped jalapenos into the guacamole or dip for a little extra flavor and sweat inducing kick. Afraid of running into your local Adonis at the soiree? Don't worry I’ve got you covered. Grab one of the iced drinks on the list below to help you achieve that smoldering look and you can offer him or her one to "cool" down.
1. Spicy Spritzer: You can still feel tropical while you get your sweat on. Try mixing cucumber, pineapple, green chili peppers, cayenne pepper, lime or lemon juice, and a dash of club soda together for a refreshing and zesty drink.
2. Give your Bloody Mary a reason to scream: Add in a few extra dashes of your favorite hot sauce (I like CaJohn’s Happy Beaver), some blended Jalapeno peppers, and a teaspoon of horseradish. This should wake you up on a Sunday morning!
3. Throw some sprinkles of cayenne pepper atop deviled eggs for your afternoon picnic.
4. Grilling up some Mexican on the deck? Fajitas or salsa are a great way to add in that extra kick. If you’re a hot sauce fan this is an easy way to take your spices up a notch and throw in some diced fresh chilis, chili powder, cilantro (contains low levels of capsaicin) or onions and fresh garlic to that taco sauce or salsa. If you’re going for a lighter fish taco and making a homemade white sauce just throw together some lemon juice and horseradish to achieve that kick.
5. Roast poblano peppers on the grill with garlic, onions and cilantro.
6. You might not think of regular old bell peppers as that hot but they still contain the circulation inducing property capsaicin- coring these and stuffing them with seafood, rice, or your favorite salad of choice is a nice summery meal option that won’t have the sweat pouring off your forehead if you really have a date to impress but will still give you that internal circulatory boost.
*Disclaimer: While raising the heat in your food choices is a great way to “stay cool” it’s equally important to maintain proper hydration- remember that dewy skin? You don’t want to be that guy passing out on the subway platform. Just think of what falling onto a disease-heavy subway floor would do to your nicely humidified visage. Always remember to drink plenty of water with your extra spicy snacks- especially with anything alcoholic, as this will dehydrate the body more.