10 Tips for a Healthy Summer

Credit: Flickr / Jason

Stay hydrated when it’s hot out, and limit caffeine and alcohol

From cooking the perfect burger to using sunscreen and insect repellant effectively, these wellness tips for summer will keep you in tip-top shape

1. Ditch the tobacco: Heavy smokers and people who chew tobacco are at increased risk for developing lip cancer.
2. Cook the perfect burger: To help ensure burgers cook through easily without drying out, make the patties thin. Use a digital thermometer to ensure the internal temperature is 160°F (71°C). 
3. Use sunscreen and insect repellent: When defending against UV rays and mosquitoes, always apply sunscreen first, followed by the insect repellent.
4. Be pool smart with your kids: All children under age 3 or who can’t swim should wear a life-jacket at all times when at the beach or at a pool.
5. Kid-proof your home: Install window guards on all second-storey windows of your home to help prevent inquisitive children from falling.
6. Down that H2O: Drink plenty of water in summer, and limit tea, coffee, caffeinated drinks and alcohol, all of which are dehydrating.
7. Be gentle with your teeth: Brushing your teeth too vigorously using a hard-bristle brush can damage tooth enamel. Use a soft brush and a lighter touch when brushing your teeth.
8. Let your juice do double duty: A juice box can double as a cold pack. Freeze the juice box overnight, and then use it to chill your lunch.
9. Watch what you eat: Foodborne illnesses like Salmonella and E. coli are more common in summer because these bacteria tend to multiply quickly in hot, humid weather.
10. Turn down the volume: If you are exposed to loud noises on a regular basis, get your hearing checked regularly, as hearing loss can be gradual and virtually symptomless.

Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness