The
summer is a time for being outdoors and enjoying clear blue skies
and the warmth of the sun.Whether you are sitting in your garden or
away on a trip, if your memories are to be good ones, it’s
important to be aware of the things that may go wrong at this time
of year and how you can do your best to avoid them.
STAYING CLEAR OF SUNBURN
The sun makes us feel good. It lifts our mood and literally
brightens our day. But just as the old saying goes, too much of it
is not a good thing. Excessive exposure to the sun damages the skin
causing the redness and tenderness of sunburn. In time too much UV
radiation and sunburn can result in premature skin aging and skin
cancer, which despite the numerous warnings is still on the
increase.
Vitamins C and E taken together in high doses, but not alone,
may help protect the skin from sunburn by limiting the harm caused
by UV radiation-produced free radicals. Beta-carotene may provide
some protection in combination with topical sunscreen. Selenium and
carotenoids such as lycopene may also help provide some degree of
protection. But antioxidants alone are not enough to protect the
skin: it’s best to use protective measures by keeping in the
shade between 11am and 3pm when the sun is most dangerous, covering
up with loose baggy cotton clothes with sleeves and trouser-legs, a
legionnaire’s cap or a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and
applying sunscreen of minimum SPF 15 effective against UVA and UVB
regularly throughout the day. Men in particular shouldn’t
forget that the top of their head needs protecting too since hair
may no longer do this for them.
If you do get caught out, calamine lotion, after-sun cream and
the fresh leaf gel from the aloe plant can be used to treat
sunburn. Vitamin E can help to repair damaged skin.
DODGING DEHYDRATION
Another problem that too much sun can cause is dehydration. If
you are feeling thirsty, then you’re already becoming
dehydrated. But let’s not lay the blame on the sun alone.
Sometimes what we do contributes too. A cold beer, or two, or more,
whilst waiting for the food on the barbeque to cook, or perhaps one
too many Pimms or gin and tonics on the patio whilst watching the
chefs at work will also contribute to dehydration since alcohol is
a diuretic, causing fluid to be lost from the body. In addition, of
course, the heat of the barbeque will make us sweat fluid out of
the body.
The solution as always is sensible behaviour. Alternate a
non-alcoholic drink with every alcoholic one and ideally limit how
many of the latter you have.
FOILING FOOD POISONING
Just because you are at home in your garden doesn’t mean
that the rules for avoiding food poisoning when on holiday
don’t apply. They do. Avoid undercooked food, wash fruits and
vegetables and make sure food is thoroughly cooked and served
piping hot. Always wash your hands after using the toilet and
before handling or preparing any food.
From a health point of view when having a barbeque, chicken and
fish are a healthier option than standard sausages and burgers.
Baked potatoes and bananas are healthy choices too. To speed up the
process and reduce the risk of impatience and hunger triggering bad
practices, try partial pre-cooking.
Should your culinary efforts leave you or your guests with an
unwanted stay in the bathroom suffering diarrhoea, then it’s
important to drink plenty of fluid to rehydrate the body. A
probiotic supplement will help replace the good bacteria that are
being lost and may help shorten the duration of the infection. In
fact, in preparation for the possible traumas to the digestive
system, taking a probiotic supplement each day means you’ll
be well prepared.
MISSING MINOR BURNS AND INJURIES
Another problem that arises because of too much alcohol and the
fact that feeling good in the warm weather may make us a little bit
too relaxed is accidents. Minor burns from the barbeque are common
for those whose inexperience leaves them vulnerable or who in the
heat of the moment do something foolish to fuel the fire. Running
the burned part under cold water and then covering it with a clean
dressing will help it to heal. If you don’t have a tap or a
dressing, then water from a bottle and some cling film will do.
Immunity boosters such as vitamin C and zinc help the body to
fight any infection that comes your way, whether this be related to
sunburn, minor injuries and burns, bites and stings, or friends
with summer colds.
BLOCKING BITES AND STINGS
The food is delicious, the wine is flowing and everyone is
having a good time. So far no one has injured him or herself. But
it wouldn’t be a party if something didn’t go wrong and
wasps, bees, ants, mosquitoes or midges seem instinctively to know
this.
Prevention is much better than cure when it comes to insect
bites and stings and citronella oil either diluted and rubbed into
the skin or burned in candles or lemon grass or basil leaves rubbed
into the skin are very good repellents, as are those from the
pharmacist. Wearing long sleeves and trousers helps as does
protective footwear, since biting insects are easily trodden
on.
HANDLING HANGOVERS
So you avoided the food poisoning but you had too much of a good
time and the headache, dizziness and sandpaper mouth mean
you’re paying the price for drinking too much alcohol. Drink
plenty of liquid, have some vitamin C (orange juice or a
supplement) and eat some toast. Ginger or peppermint will help to
relieve any stomach discomfort. Taking a concentrated artichoke
extract or some milk thistle will help the liver process the
alcohol.
Don’t let reading this put you off the joys of the outdoor
life in the summer. These problems are common occurrences but can
easily be avoided with a little preparation and planning.
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