Here are an abundance of health tips (AARP Magazine June/July 2016) to help you survive Huntley’s late summer Dog Days.
1. It is so important for seniors to remain hydrated properly in warm weather. This is not always an easy task! One way to get enough liquid into your body is through eating late summer’s abundance of fresh produce, which is filled with water. Three fresh fruit included in this category are watermelons, peaches, and strawberries. Three fresh vegetables laden with interior moisture are tomatoes, zucchini, and corn on the cob.
2. Here is a tip that really works for me when I do long-distance power walking daily with my walking buddies. I carry at least 1/2 of a bottle filled with iced or chilled water. The chilling of my hands, according to Stanford University School of Medicine, cools my palms leading to blood circulation and the pulling of heat from my body. The school’s researchers also determined that this cooling device helped people to stick with their workouts and work out longer.
3. Did you know that car windows and sunrooms, though covered with glass, can still lead to problems with sunburn? It’s been discovered that windows don’t filter out UVA rays and, subsequently, can still damage our skin. Cover up and use protection when necessary!
4. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the use of clothing with vivid colors, as opposed to paler clothing items, to gain more skin protection. The foundation does recommend, however, darker colors, not lighter shades, to block more UV radiation. Plus, the use of synthetic fibers, such as Lycra, nylon, and acrylic, have been found to be better than cotton material in preventing skin cancer.
5. A recent German study has shown a quick relief for a mosquito bite. Simply run a spoon under hot tap water. The utensil’s heat should remove the itching sensation in five to ten minutes.
6. While tai-chi, yoga, and meditation can bring a variety of calmer sensations to our stressed bodies, try a sniff of orange for a faster relief. Lyon Neuroscience Research Center in France informs us “Citrusy and floral aromas help lower anxiety.”
7. Here is a little known fact about the use of deodorant. Put on an antiperspirant at bedtime for a more effective control. It will have time to plug sweat glands overnight. You’ll even be protected from odor for the next 24 hours – all the way through your morning shower.
8. Honey has been discovered by New Zealand’s University of Auckland to speed up healing time when put on open wounds due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Another study showed that honey also reduces scarring. Finally, don’t forget to apply a bandage over the sticky surface.
9. If you don’t want to get your Vitamin D through the possibility of a risky sunburn, try eating these vitamin D rich foods: Sockeye salmon (three ounces), fortified cereal (one cup), the yolk of one large egg, Swiss cheese (one ounce), mushrooms (one cup of pieces), and cod liver oil (one tablespoon).
10. Make sure you apply sunscreen first before adding bug spray second for outside skin aide. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control tells us “…bug sprays work by creating a field of repellency as they evaporate and leave the skin.” And because sunscreen usually needs to frequently be reapplied, don’t purchase a combo of repellent-sunscreen product.
