10 Ways to Stay Healthy this Summer

How to cook a hamburger, treat poison ivy and take care of other critical summer health concerns

Credit: Lauren Kennedy Photography

Those flips-flops you wear all summer could be harming your feet

10 things you should know to stay healthy and well.

Did you know?

  1. Belly fat contains cytokines, which can cause inflammation in the body. That’s why belly fat 
is a major risk for heart disease and diabetes. 

  2. 
A hamburger should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Use a meat 
thermometer to be sure. 

  3. When exposed to poison ivy, first wipe the area with rubbing alcohol, and then rinse with water. Using soap first can spread the allergen and make the rash worse. 

  4. When your doctor asks about what medications you take, include all vitamins and herbal supplements as these can interact with certain drugs. 

  5. Never drink water out of lakes and streams as 
it can contain biological contaminants. Use a water-filter bottle or use chemical treatment. 

  6. 
The body loses about 10 cups (2.5 litres) of water a day through breathing, sweating and urine output. That increases dramatically in hot weather, so be sure you drink lots of water. 

  7. Flip-flops provide no foot support, making them an especially bad choice for people with flat feet and high arches.

  8. Sunblocks like zinc oxide and titanium oxide work by reflecting the sun’s radiation away from the skin so it is not absorbed. 

  9. Many people develop contact dermatitis from the chemicals in sunscreens. Sunblocks, like zinc oxide, don’t generally produce this reaction. 

  10. A British study has found that fat stored around the hips and thighs releases beneficial hormones that may actually protect arteries and help control blood sugar.

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