Timely Tips to Keep Healthy in the Heat

Summer is supposed to be filled with sun and fun, but if you’re not prepared, even the best day can turn into a bad one. So, take note of these super summer safety tips for a happier, healthier season:

Don’t get sun burned – If you enjoy outdoor activities, summer can be the perfect time for a trip to the beach, pool, playground, theme park, hiking trail or other locales that make for lots of family fun. However, fun in the sun can become uncomfortable very quickly if you or your kids spend too much time under the ultraviolet rays. To avoid painful sunburn, follow these summer safety tips:
•    Wear a hat and sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of ultraviolet rays.
•    Avoid direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is most intense.
•    Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater, and apply it at least 30 minutes before going outdoors. Reapply the sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

Stay hydrated – When you’re active in the summer heat and you sweat, your body loses essential hydration, which can lead to heat exhaustion or possibly heat stroke. While you’re playing tennis, tossing around a Frisbee, biking or whatever, make sure you drink plenty of water, about one cup every half hour. Also, try to avoid caffeinated drinks, which can actually dehydrate your body.

Healthy living is all about eating well and exercising, two activities that tend to fall by the wayside in our fast-paced, hectic culture. Luckily, good nutrition can be as simple as loading up on these three super foods.

Blueberries. These small, antioxidant-rich fruits are packed with fiber, potassium, and Vitamin C. Eating about ½ a cup per day will decrease your risk of heart disease and cancer. Additional benefits include anti-inflammatory properties, which can help control a host of chronic diseases. Added tip: For a breakfast that would make your doctor proud, combine two super foods by throwing a handful of blueberries in your morning oatmeal. Now that’s healthy living!

For many fathers, watching television is the best way to relax, especially after the kids are off to bed. It can be an opportunity to kick back in a comfy chair and turn off the brain after a long day of work. However, sitting in front of the “boob tube” for too long can have a negative impact on one’s health. What to do? Did you know you can exercise while watching TV?

This Father’s Day, to help dad stay healthy, you can show him some exercises he can do while watching TV. Considering that the average man supposedly spends about 19 hours watching television each week, the special dad in your life may prove to be in the best shape of his life once the season’s TV finales come along.

We expect our houses to be safe, happy places in which our families can relax and grow, not hotbeds of dangerous carcinogens. To help keep the air your family breathes safe and clean, watch out for these three common household irritants.

Indoor Air Pollutants. The EPA recently stated that indoor air pollution might pose a greater risk to a family’s health than pollutants in the air outside. Oil, gas, kerosene, tobacco smoke, damp carpets, heating and cooling systems, and household cleaners are all health hazards that can release harmful or toxic chemicals into the air in your home. To help protect your family from these household dangers, eliminate toxins over which you have control (e.g. tobacco smoke), and increase ventilation when possible by opening windows or operating attic fans. (To learn more, read the EPA’s booklet here.)

When you have young children at home, getting outdoors for a run or bike ride can be close to impossible. Luckily, home exercise can be both fun and effective with a home exercise machine. The trick to finding a home routine that works for you is knowing which exercise machine will best complement the daily exercise you love most.

Are you an avid runner? Try bringing home an elliptical machine or a treadmill. Either exercise machine will give you the great cardio workout you’ve come to love with new challenges and options. Most in-home treadmills allow you to pick your preferred level of incline, and elliptical machines have a number of built-in options that let you vary your workout each day.