Heat Wave: How Europe Is Staying Cool

Heat Wave: How Europe Is Staying Cool

Europe has been baking under brutal heatwaves this summer, with temperatures hitting 46°C in parts of Spain and Portugal. As cities get unbearably hot, people are looking for creative ways to keep cool.

In Spain’s Jerez de la Frontera, locals are planting grapevines across the old city, creating leafy canopies that can lower street temperatures by up to 8°C.

It’s the perfect solution: unlike trees, vines don’t need much water after their first 2 years. And since they shed leaves in winter, they let sunlight in when it’s welcome. A single stem can shade as much as 60 square meters, meaning a handful of plants can transform entire streets. 🌱

Other Spanish towns are trying their own tricks:

• In Málaga, crocheted blankets hang across narrow lanes, casting colorful shadows.

• In Valladolid, residents turned canopies into hanging gardens.

• And in Seville, engineers revived a 3,000-year-old Persian technique called the qanat, using underground water channels to cool an old theater by 6–7°C.

And in other parts of the world as well:

• Paris is experimenting with reflective materials on rooftops and “oasis yards” (shaded, green playgrounds) in schools.

• Singapore has been expanding “vertical forests,” covering skyscrapers with greenery to regulate heat.

• In Colombia, a network of “green corridors” planted with trees and shrubs has dropped surrounding temperatures by up to 4°C.

In Islam, even removing a small stone from someone’s path is considered a form of charity. How much greater, then, to offer shade in times of unbearable heat?

Look for little ways to make life easier for those around you — it will bring meaning into your life as well.

Food of the Week: Dark Chocolate 🍫

Dark chocolate may feel like a guilty pleasure, but did you know it’s actually a superfood? 🍫

Packed with antioxidants, minerals, and fiber, it can support your heart, brain, and overall health. The key is choosing high-quality chocolate with at least 60–70% cocoa and minimal added sugar.

Health Benefits

• Heart – Flavonoids may lower blood pressure and improve circulation.

• Brain – Antioxidants, magnesium, and iron support memory and focus.

• Mood – Compounds like theobromine and a touch of caffeine boost energy and mood.

• Metabolism – May help improve insulin sensitivity and support weight management.

• Anti-Inflammation – Polyphenols protect cells and reduce chronic inflammation.

Who Benefits Most

• Busy professionals, students needing a focus and mood lift.

• Older adults looking to support heart and brain health.

• Athletes for recovery support, thanks to antioxidants and minerals.

Fun Fact

The Aztecs valued cacao beans so highly, they would use them as currency 💰 a hundred beans could buy a turkey hen — workers were even paid in cacao.