The weather may be blowing hot and cold sometimes, but it can get rather hot and humid working from home.
To keep your utility bill from rising along with the temperature, here are four tips to stay cool without working the air-conditioner overtime.
1 STAY HYDRATED[hhmc]
As our bodies maintain their temperature through perspiration, getting enough water is always the main consideration in hot weather, says Mr Chan Joy Seng, director and nutritionist at Alive Nutrition Consultancy.
It is recommended that adults drink about eight glasses (or 2 litres) of water a day, and even more if one is exposed to heat, exercises a lot or is pregnant, breastfeeding or unwell.
Overall fluid intake can be increased by consuming foods with high water content, such as porridge, soups or stews, and fruit and vegetables such as watermelon, berries, cucumber, celery and lettuce.
While the physical temperature of drinks does not directly affect the hydration status of the human body, Mr Chan says: "A person may drink more water when the water is cold rather than warm, due to the cooling sensation similar to mint."
You do not need to avoid drinking coffee or tea either.
While caffeinated beverages may have a mild diuretic effect and cause the need to urinate, normal consumption is not shown to directly increase the risk of dehydration.
2 COOL FOODS[hhmc]
In traditional Chinese medicine, "cold" and "cooling" foods can help "remove toxins, clear the bowels and eliminate body heat", says physician Ng Qing Xiang of Eu Yan Sang TCM clinic.
These include green bean soup, chrysanthemum tea, green tea, bitter gourd, winter melon, mangosteen and monk fruit.
3 KNOW YOUR FABRICS[hhmc]
The materials you wear matter.
Mr Martin Bonney, fashion lecturer at Lasalle College of the Arts, suggests choosing plant-based fibres such as tencel, bamboo and viscose, which help regulate body temperature as they are breathable and absorb perspiration quickly.
Choose something lightweight, he says, and check the thickness of the fabric if the weather is warm.
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