Cynthia Bjorlie, M.D. Directors Corner - Founder of Adult Foster Care of the North Shore

Director's Corner

8 Unconventional Summer Health Tips

8 Unconventional Summer Health Tips

With the summer solstice just days away, we wanted to share some of our favorite unconventional summer health tips.

Stay Hydrated with Fruits and Veggies
We all know that drinking water is especially important during the hot summer months but sometimes it’s hard to consume enough. Luckily, fresh summer produce provides plenty of fluid. Watermelon, peaches, cucumbers and zucchini are among the many seasonal summer crops that provide hydration.

Cool your Palms on an Active Day
Did you know that holding a cold bottle of water can help cool your whole body? Cooling your palms helps circulate blood and pulls heat from the body.

Window Hazard
Don’t forget to put on sunscreen for those long car rides! Car windows do not filter out damaging UVA rays so you can still damage your skin while on the road.

Warm Spoon Trick
Need mosquito bite relief? Some say pressing a warm spoon on the bite helps relieve the itch within minutes.

Stop Ticks in their Tracks
Use the heat of your dryer to kill pesky ticks. Ten minutes on high heat in the dryer kills ticks.

The Right Way to Spray
Sunscreen and bug spray are commonly used together during the summer months. Make sure to apply your sunscreen first, then bug spray. Bug spray works “by creating a field of repellency as it evaporates and leaves the skin,” says the CDC’s Kate Fowlie.

Cook, then Shuck
Corn on the cob is a must-have at summer cookouts but shucking it can be a pain. Try keeping the ear in their husks while cooking. Not only does it make shucking easier, this cooking method can help keep nutrients intact.

Stop Shoe Odor
Grab tea bags from your pantry and put them in your shoes. This sounds unconventional but the teas bags will absorb moisture and the odor. First, wipe your shoes with rubbing alcohol to kill bacteria. Then, place one dry, unused tea bag in each shoe and let them sit overnight.

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