Brits have been basking in a UK heatwave with temperatures soaring to 32 degrees in some parts of the country.

The Met Office has forecasted an official heatwave in the UK over the coming days, as the weather continues to sizzle. After a balmy Monday, the mercury is set to rise even further as the week goes on.

This comes as numerous individuals on X, previously known as Twitter, have been discussing the sweltering UK temperatures. One user quipped: “Come to the UK, we’re in a heatwave.”

Another lamented: “This scorching weather is unbearable. I can’t wait for it to get cooler.”

So, how do we cope?

Dr Alasdair Scott, a science director at Selph, has offered some advice on how Brits can stay cool and prevent heatstroke. His tips include one unexpected food item that should be avoided.

Contrary to popular opinion, Dr Scott advises against eating ice cream suggesting spicy foods might be a better choice during this hot spell.

He clarified: “It may come as a surprise, but ice cream can actually make your body warmer. Ice cream is generally high in fat, protein and carbohydrates, which can heat up the body while it digests food.

“Yes you will have the instant ‘cooling’ sensation when you eat it, but then as it is digested, you will feel warmer as your body has to provide energy to digest it.

“Complex carbohydrates and whole grains, such as brown rice, can also be hard for the body to digest and therefore increase your body temperature. Anything that contains complex carbohydrates and highly processed foods will generally be more warming than cooling.”

To keep cool, Dr Scott recommends eating fruit and vegetables which have a high-water concentration, such as watermelon, cucumber, strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, courgettes and peppers.

“Foods like these are easy for the body to digest due to the high water content, so they will help you to stay hydrated and well-nourished,” he explained.

Meanwhile cold soups like gazpacho are also a great way to cool down, while getting lots of vitamins and minerals into your diet. And surprisingly spicy foods which can make you sweat are also cooling.

He concluded: “It’s no coincidence that spicy dishes are often eaten in countries closer to the equator. They are cooling foods as they influence the body when you sweat, and through evaporative cooling, you feel cooler.”