Last summer I got real sick spending a week in my cousin’s village near the equator. Threw up for three days straight. After that mess, I started testing cheap ways to stay healthy in crazy heat without spending tons on meds or aircon.
Stuff I Packed Before Leaving
Grabbed a giant water bottle first – one with time markers so I wouldn’t forget to drink. Found these ugly but super breathable shirts at the market. Cheap wide-brim hat too. Stuffed a tiny first aid kit with ORS packs and zinc tablets cause diarrhea hits hard out there.
My Daily Heat Routine
Woke up at 6AM to walk before the sun got evil. Around noon, I’d dunk my hat in cold water before going out – feels gross but works. Set phone alarms every hour to chug water even when not thirsty. Biggest game-changer? Cold showers twice daily. Not quick rinses – full 15-minute cooldowns.
Food Experiments
Avoided street food after getting the runs twice. Cooked all meals with tons of ginger and garlic. Made “heat defense” salads with cucumber, mint, and watermelon every damn day. Ate small portions five times instead of three big meals – felt less like puking that way.
What Actually Helped
- Electrolyte water (just salt + lemon + sugar) after sweating buckets
- Sleeping with wet towels around my neck
- Putting foot powder everywhere to stop fungal crap
- Washing hands like a germophobe before touching food
Epic Fail Moments
Tried working outside at 2PM once – almost passed out in 15 minutes. Got lazy with mosquito spray and ended up with dengue-like symptoms (tested negative thankfully). Forgot sunscreen on my ears – blisters for a week.
After three months testing this stuff: zero serious illnesses. The boring routines work better than fancy pills. Drink stupid amounts of water, eat like a rabbit, and treat shade like your best friend. Stay alive out there people.
