The dog days of summer have officially kicked off! From July 12th up until August 20th, we Americans get to enjoy a special subset of the summer, the so-called “dog days.” Across much of the country you can expect extreme heat, thunderstorms, droughts, humidity and more.
Some even believe that dogs are more likely to go mad and that more people will suffer from bad luck. Historically, the dog days of summer have been tied to the star system Sirius and Roman astrology. While we’re going to avoid the more mystical portions of this topic, there’s no denying that the middle of the summer tends to be particularly hot.
That’s why we have some tips for staying healthy through the summer’s most extreme days.
Stay Hydrated
The dog days are especially hot and humid, which could increase dehydration risks. This is especially true if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors or are exercising. If you are, you need to be especially careful and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water.
Some other hydration tips:
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Munch on fruits that contain a lot of water, such as apples and oranges.
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Consume electrolytes and carbohydrates.
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Watch for dark colored urine as it may indicate that you’re dehydrated
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Weigh Yourself Immediately Before and After Your Workout
When you work out, you’ll sweat a lot. One way to stay hydrated is to monitor how much sweat you’re losing. The more you sweat, the greater the risks of dehydration as your body is pumping liquids out. So monitor yourself right before and after working out (naked is best!).
Why? You will be able to measure how much liquid you are losing. If you two pounds after an intense workout, this means you’ve lost about 2 points of water! It’s best to keep water loss to about 1 percent of your body weight.
Protect (and Hydrate) Your Skin
If you spend a lot of time out in the sun, your skin is going to bear the brunt of all that exposure. While many people want to enjoy a nice tan, fact is, too much exposure to the sun can be damaging. Make sure you protect your skin with sun block and use plenty of moisturizers.
Worried about wrinkles? Don’t want to use chemical moisturizers? Check out Natural Skin Rx’s hydrating green tea mask.
Naturally Heal Muscle and Joint Injuries
If you’re getting a lot of exercise, there’s a risk that you will suffer a muscle and joint injury. Don’t get use wrong, exercise is great, even in the dog days of summer. However, you should also make sure you take time to heal any injuries and address M&J pain.
Fortunately, you can do so with a natural muscle & joint cream.
