Nutritionists Say These Everyday Foods Might Be Working Against You This Summer

The heat is not the only thing working against your energy levels this summer, what is on your plate might be quietly making things worse. Certain everyday foods actually raise body temperature or speed up dehydration, even when they seem completely harmless.

None of them need to disappear from your kitchen forever, but nutritionists say a few common choices deserve a second look once temperatures climb. A handful of foods in particular tend to fight against the body instead of helping it cool down.

Alcohol

Cold beer by the pool feels refreshing in the moment, but alcohol interferes with the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. It is also a diuretic, which means it pulls fluid out of the body at exactly the moment heat is already draining it.

Caffeine

Coffee, energy drinks, and strong tea work the same way alcohol does, acting as diuretics that increase fluid loss and can temporarily raise body temperature. A cup here or there is fine, but leaning on caffeine all day during a heat wave tends to backfire.

Salty Processed Snacks

Chips, cured meats, and other salty processed foods pull moisture out of the body by forcing it to process extra sodium. “Salty processed foods can worsen dehydration by increasing sodium intake,” registered dietitian Martha McKittrick told Time.

Fried Foods

Fried food is loaded with saturated fat that slows digestion considerably, forcing the body to work harder and generate more heat in the process. That heavy, sluggish feeling after a fried meal is a sign the body is struggling to keep up in a way it would not on a cooler day.

Heavy Red Meat

Rich, fatty cuts like burgers and grilled red meat take longer to digest than lighter proteins, which can strain the digestive system even more once temperatures rise. Swapping in something lighter, like grilled fish or a cold shrimp salad, tends to sit a lot easier on a hot afternoon.

None of this means summer barbecues are canceled, moderation is really the entire point. Pay attention to how your body feels after eating in extreme heat, and lean toward lighter, cooler choices when you can, your energy levels will likely thank you by the end of the day.