After that brief respite the last two weeks, it looks like the temperature is going to climb back into the hot and uncomfortable ranges. If you’re like me, you may put yourself directly in the path of a fan with a cool drink and still feel hot and sticky.
Never fear! Outrageous is here to give you some miracle cures for the hot and sweaty mess that many of us become in summertime:
1.Mint.
This versatile herb not only feels cool and tingly on the tongue, it offers some great health benefits too! The menthol (the chemical that makes you tingle) in mint helps calm indigestion and chest pains. It opens and activates pores in the skin, helping you sweat out the heat.
2. Fennel or Saunf.
This tangy licorice-tinted plant is a great mouth freshener and can add a cool spice to your summer cooking. It can calm inflammation in the body caused by the heat and ease acid reflux. For a sweet summer energizer, soak fennel seeds in water overnight. In the morning, strain the water and drink with a pinch of sugar, lemon, and black salt.
3. Turmeric.
Spices with a bitter bite often have cooling properties. Turmeric reduces pain and swelling in the body, as well as cleansing the liver and purifying the blood. This spice contains curcumin, an antioxidant that can help promote healthy heart function and boost the immune system to guard against seasonal allergies.
4. Cardamom.
Cardamom counteracts excess stomach acids and, when the seeds are ground, helps ease stomach cramps. Add a dash or two of cardamom and a splash of almond milk to rooibos tea for a cool drink, or dust some on your morning smoothie, yogurt, or granola.
5. Cilantro/Coriander.
The leaf of the plant (cilantro) helps counteract the spice of many latin dishes, and the seed (coriander) helps to cool and stabilize. Pair this with our next cooling spice for a delicious summer meal!
6. Cumin.
Cumin is a staple of many spicy dishes from Mexico, and helps balance the heat of salsas and chiles. It also may help ease asthma symptoms, gas, bloating, and aid in detoxification.
7. Saffron.
This spice may be hard to get ahold of—it’s the most expensive spice in the world!—but it’s sunny flavor and color that harken back to the hills of Catalonia will add the perfect cooling touch to any Spanish dish. Try it in paella, curry, or meat rubs. For a delicious cooling tea, boil water with saffron powder and a few cardamom pods. After it boils, remove it from the heat, add a tea bag of your choosing, and steep.
9. Tahitian Vanilla Bean.
Vanilla is probably the one true love of my life, and this decadent spice is the perfect companion to a cool, sweet fruit salad to indulge yourself.
10. Dill.
This cooling, savory spice is useful in grilled veggies and fish to bring you some heat relief. This is an incredibly hardy garden herb.
If you’re thinking of planting a garden come next spring, consider growing some of these spices and herbs yourself! And stay cool out there.
