Japan's long, hot, humid summer can certainly put a damper on both mind and body. So what kind of food, if any, will help you cope with the intense heat and make you feel cool?

Somen (Japanese vermicelli), hiyamugi (iced noodles), kakigori (shaved ice) and watermelons immediately come to mind for many Japanese. They'll cool you down temporarily, but if you rely on them exclusively you'll end up feeling far from genki. On the other hand, though dishes like yakiniku (barbecued beef) or unagi (eel) may give stamina, they're too rich to go down well in hot weather.

One strategy you can try is eating hot and spicy -- heat the belly to cool down the body.