Tired of the heat? I’m totally with you. Even in air conditioning — which never feels quite as good as a lower temp breeze — my body still knows it’s too warm outside for true comfort.

Funny thing is that a lot of what you can do to beat the heat is great for your health, too. So, cool down and build some new, good habits with the following tips:

•  Drink a LOT of water. Your body is primarily made up of water, and it’s heating up. Lots of clean, cool water will help you feel better and keep your energy going. Plus, if you’re sweating, you need to replace what you’re losing. Drinks with sugar or caffeine or alcohol will only make you feel worse.

•  Hydrate the outside of your body with a quick, cool shower or a nice swim. You’ll remove the sweat, lower your temperature and feel refreshed. Can’t do either at the moment? Put a cold washcloth on your wrists and/or the back of your neck or at least run cold water over your wrists. Soaking your feet in cool water helps, too, as that is one of the ways your body removes excess heat.

•  Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables … the natural way, as they grow. Fruits that are especially cooling include watermelon, grapes, peaches, nectarines and plums. Vegetables that contain more water like tomatoes, leafy greens and cucumbers also help cool you down.

•  Lighten up on heavy meat protein which warms your body as you digest it. Instead choose fish or vegetable proteins like beans.

•  No, sorry, ice cream won’t help. It’s too heavy, and, again, your body warms up trying to digest it. Stick with fresh fruit or a sorbet. (But, hey, it’s summer, and life is meant to be lived. So, if some ice cream turns up your happiness dial, have at it, and enjoy the heck out of it.)

•  Wear natural fabrics — think cotton and linen — instead of synthetics like polyester and rayon. Looser clothes also will feel better than tight ones.

•  Use natural products on your skin that have mint in them. Mint produces a natural cooling effect.

•  Keep the air moving. Any sort of breeze, even if it’s artificially created, will make you feel like the temperature is lower.