When temperatures soar, many people find their appetite suddenly plummets. The idea of eating a hot meal becomes the last thing our minds when the heat becomes too much to bear.

This doesn’t happen because the body is being fussy. The key reason why the simple act of eating becomes so unappealing to us in the heat largely has to do with the body working to keep running, and avoid overheating.

In order for our metabolism and many other physiological functions to perform correctly, the body needs to maintain an average internal body temperature of 37°C. Body temperature is tightly controlled by the brain’s temperature control centre, the hypothalamus.

If our internal temperature ever gets too low or too high, the action of enzymes and other biochemical reactions will stall or stop working properly. This is why it’s integral that average internal temperature is closely regulated.

Numerous factors can impact core temperature. These can include infections, exercise and exertion, hormones, alcohol and drugs.

The ambient temperature of the environment matters, too. So during hot weather, the body deploys several cooling mechanisms to prevent the outside heat from making core temperatures rise.

Sweating, for instance, helps us cool down.........

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