This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about the last days of summer. On a hot day, cooling off with ice cream sounds like a great idea. But don’t count on ice cream to keep your body cool.

Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says that ice cream may feel cold as you eat it, but it doesn’t actually change your body’s temperature enough to really cool it. Body temperature is most affected by how hydrated you are. Without enough fluid in your body, you can’t keep your body temperature from rising in the heat. Ice cream does melt as you eat it, so it counts toward your fluid intake, but a glass of cold water will do more to really cool you off. Enjoy your ice cream as an occasional treat, but wash it down with cool water to keep your body cool.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/nutrition to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in nutrition.