Healthy Summer Tips

Summer is a time for relaxation and fun, but you also want your family to be healthy too. Here are some great tips to make your summer healthier for everyone in the family, including pets. Using a little caution, eating well and boosting your mood in nature can help your family enjoy everyday of the lazy summer to come.

Be Cautious

Use sunscreen

Using a good sunscreen that protects our skin from UV rays is crucial to avoiding skin damage. A good sunscreen should have an SPF of 15 or higher, be water-resistant, and provide broad-spectrum protection. Sun protection is the best approach. However, sometimes a sunburn can occur and when it does here are a few tips for dealing with it:

• Take frequent cool baths and showers
• Use a moisturizer which contains aloe vera
• Drink extra water
• Don’t pop blisters if they form, allow to heal.

Avoid getting a heat rash

Sometimes the heat can get the best of us as sweat ducts get blocked and cause discomfort and itching known as heat rash. This pink or red rash is common in babies, however, can occur in adults, especially when it is hot and humid.

What happens if you find yourself with a heat rash? Here are some simple steps to take:

• The first step is removing clothing and moving to a cool area.
• Let skin air-dry instead of using towels which can irritate the skin even further.
• Also, avoid using any lotion or ointment on the rash.

Watch out for food poisoning

In hotter temperatures, food can spoil and can cause sickness from food-borne illnesses. Some tips to prevent spoiled food include refrigerating perishables within two hours, washing hands before prepping food and handling raw meats and using a thermometer to check meat temperature.

When you do succumb to food poisoning here are some tips for dealing with it:

• Avoid dehydration by sipping water
• Don’t eat solid foods until vomiting has ended
• Eat light bland foods such as crackers as part of your recovery.

Try Coptis, a TCM formula is good for addressing symptoms of food poisoning.(1)

Eat Well with these Healthy Summer Foods and Herbs

Blueberries

These tiny berries are packed with antioxidants and can reduce muscle fatigue after that long hike.

Cucumber

Cucumber is a refreshing and high-water content food and helps to flush toxins from the body.

Lemon

Lemons stimulate the liver and help to restore balance to the body’s pH. Lemons also stimulate bile production and cleanse the kidneys.

Tart Cherries

Every summer can use a cherry pie! Studies show that tart cherries help support better sleep, rev up fat burning and decrease fat storage. If you are not a fan of the fruit or juice, you can still reap the benefits from tart cherries in a supplement form.

Tomatoes

The smell of fresh tomatoes screams summer. They also contain a carotenoid called lycopene. Lycopene is what gives tomatoes their red color. It has also been shown to help protect against sunburn, a definite plus on a sunny day!

Fennel

Packed with phytonutrients and antioxidants, this fiber-rich vegetable acts as a diuretic. Fennel can help reduce bloating in your tummy which makes it a bikini saver on the beach!

Watermelon

Hydration in the heat is extremely important. Being hydrated helps keep your memory sharp; being dehydrated can impact mood. Water isn’t the only way to stay cool and refreshed during the summer month. Watermelon is also a great alternative. Not only is watermelon 92% water, but it also contains lycopene and offers the same sunburn protection as tomatoes. Enjoy it right off the rind or try watermelon water.

Avocado

Avocados contain glutathione to detoxify toxins and are a great base to smoothies.

Flax Seeds

Flax seeds are not only high in soluble and insoluble fibers, but also contain plant-derived omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

Mint

Mint is a cooling herb that is easy to grow. Add it to your lemonade or a salad. Chew on the herb for fresh breath. Mint also soothes indigestion and stomach inflammation. It also supports normal digestion and can be used if nausea or experiencing motion sickness when traveling.

Cumin

Cumin seeds have been used since ancient times to help the digestive system. Cumin can cool the body, aid detoxification, and help with gas and bloating. Cumin has antiseptic properties, which can provide sore throat relief. Cumin is rich in iron and contains calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Coriander

In Ayurvedic medicine, coriander is considered one of the top cooling spices. Coriander derives from the seed of the cilantro plant. Coriander is often used to flavor meat or vegetables. Coriander eases digestion and supports normal blood sugar metabolism.

Fennel

Fennel seed is a cooling spice and is especially good for summertime meals. Fennel has traditionally been used for digestion and reducing acid reflux. Chewing on fennel seeds before or after a meal can freshen breath and help stimulate intestinal juices. Fennel seeds also contain vitamin C, potassium, manganese, iron, folate, and fiber.

Lemongrass and Lemon Balm

Lemongrass and lemon balm dilate the pores so heat can be released. Lemongrass has antimicrobial properties and supports normal blood circulation. Lemongrass and lemon balm are also both excellent insect repellent. Lemon balm has calming properties and can be used for headaches, relaxation, and cramping due to menstruation.

Boost your mood

Home is where the summer is

Many of our childhood summer memories were at home. Playing in the backyard, cooling off with the kids on the block under an open hydrant, and riding your bike around town. Lemonade stands, ice cream trucks, and fanning yourself on your porch at night. Bring that back into your summer days. Go for a walk after work. Meet your friend at an outdoor movie and break out the iced tea. Next time you water your lawn, water yourself too!

Earthing

What is earthing you ask? Spending so much of our time indoors disconnects us from the earth. While our ancestors understood the importance of feeling the dirt between their toes and sleeping under a full moon, we have forgotten the importance of nature to our well-being. No seriously, it is known as nature therapy, but it has been proven over thousands of years that we as humans are happier in nature.

Earthing is the physical connection of our body to the earth; this can be in the water, earth, or plant life.  Earthing can:

• increase happiness
• restore balance
• reduce inflammation
• improve sleep
• improve circulation
• lower stress
• boost energy
• increase creativity.

So, walk barefoot through the grass and spend the day laying in the sand at the beach. Go swim in the lake and sit under the tree in the park during your lunch break.

Add Mood Boosters to Your Summer Meals

• Add lemon to your ice water; it can help detox your body and lemon is an uplifting scent.
  Add tomatoes to your summer salad; they are a source of lycopene, an antioxidant that fights depression-causing inflammation.
• Coconut everything. Coconut screams summer but also contains medium-chain triglycerides known to boost mood and energy.
• Roses bloom in the summer months but are also known to calm feelings of bitterness and anger. Try rose tea in a cold-brew beverage or rosewater mixed with juice for a refreshing mood changer.

Don’t forget the family pet

Our pets love the summer as much as we do, but it is important to keep them safe during the hotter months. Dogs may love to take a swim or hike with us, but they just don’t sweat as we do. Cats may love to sprawl under the hot sun, but they need to be looked after in the heat too.

Pets can experience heatstroke quickly since the only way they can cool themselves is by panting. They can also get a sunburn-like we do, making it important to limit their exposure to the sun.

Here are a few tips for keeping dogs and cats safe:

• Never leave your pet in a hot car. Cars can heat up to 160 degrees in minutes when under the hot sun.
  Summer is the peak time for ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. Always check your dog or cat when coming in from outside and talk to your vet about appropriate protection against these parasites.
• Protect their paws. Patios, sidewalks, asphalt, and sand can become too hot for your pet to walk on and their paws could get burned. It may be best to walk your pets in the early morning or late in the evening when the ground is cooler.
• Always give unlimited access to clean, cool water. Dehydration can be dangerous for pets so water should always available both indoors and outdoors. Encourage your pet to drink more by adding ice cubes.
• Fireworks and pets don’t mix. Keep them away when festivities involve fireworks. The loud noises and flashes of light can disorient and frighten your pet. There is also a risk of burns and chemical poisoning if they eat them.
• Thunderstorms and travel can cause anxiety. Pets can experience anxiety. The summer months may increase it given the prevalence of storms, travel, and being left alone.

Your pet may love summer, but it is your job to keep them safe and happy during these hot months.

Reference
1 Bensky, D., Clavey, S., and Ströger, E. Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica Portable 3rd Edition. Eastland Press, Inc.: Seattle. 2015. Print.