Feeling constantly hot is a problem which bothers many pregnant women. A surprising solution is simply having certain foods which chill the body.
According to Chinese medicine every food contains a certain sort of energy. Some hold ‘hot’ energy, which raises the body temperature: beef, ginger and cinnamon to name a few. On the same principal, some foods hold ‘cold’ or ‘chilling’ energy, which can help you feel cool and relaxed.
Feeling hot is a very common pregnancy symptom. To feel cool and comfortable again, simply try some of these foods. Note that whether a certain food ‘cools’ or ‘heats’ isn’t necessarily related to the temperature it’s being served in, but to the type of energy it holds. In other words, in theory you can have hot foods which will cool you down.
Veggies are Cool!
Vegetables are probably the largest group of cooling foods. And not only will they cool your body, they will also provide you and your baby plenty of vitamins and other important nutritional ingredients. So fresh, in the salad, or even steamed – whenever you feel hot – try having one of the following:
- Cucumber
- Lettuce, spinach and other green leaves
- Avocado
- Bell pepper
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
Fruits to Cool you Down
Fruits are another large group of cooling foods which are highly recommended in every pregnancy diet. Whether chilled down a bit or in room temperature, these fruits and many others can help you feel cool and relaxed:
- Orange, lemon and other citrus
- Apple
- Carrot
- Watermelon
- Mango
* Note: the recommended intake of fruit for pregnant women is about 3 fruits per day (or 3 cups of sliced fruit)
You Look so Cool with that Drink…!
Ice cold water will cool you down, but many women don’t like it. Plus, according to Chinese medicine, cold water might actually make you feel tired and drained of energy. Try cooling yourself with some of these drinks:
- Chilled green tea
- Fruit shakes (can be prepared from all of the fruits listed above, and others)
Cooling down with Cereals and Legumes
Some cereals and legumes can also cool your body. Have them cooked, as a pastry or a in a dish:
- Wheat (preferably whole)
- Barley
- Millet
- Lima beans
- Mung bean
“Is it Hot in Here?” (What to Avoid when you Feel Hot)
As mentioned above, according to Chinese medicine some foods have a ‘heating’ affect on our bodies. Therefore, if you feel hot you might want to stay away from the following:
- Meat
- Chicken and other poultry
- Fat foods
- Spicy food
- Fried foods
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Smoking
There are many more foods which can cool your body temperature, and a follow up article with will be published soon. Until then, try the foods listed above, and feel how they affect your body. We also recommend consulting with your physician and/or dietitian before making any changes in your diet when pregnant.
