Summer Health Guide: Four Dos and Don'ts for the Dog Days of Summer, Scientifically Enjoying the Scorching Heat

Summer Health Guide: Four Dos and Don'ts for the Dog Days of Summer, Scientifically Enjoying the Scorching HeatJuly is upon us, with scorching sun and soaring temperatures. The hottest period of the yearthe Dog Days of Summeris just around the corner

Summer Health Guide: Four Dos and Don'ts for the Dog Days of Summer, Scientifically Enjoying the Scorching Heat

July is upon us, with scorching sun and soaring temperatures. The hottest period of the yearthe Dog Days of Summeris just around the corner. During this unbearably hot season, how to scientifically survive the "Dog Days" and safeguard our health has become a focus of attention for many. In high-temperature weather, our bodies are susceptible to heatstroke, sunburns, and other health problems. Therefore, we need to pay even more attention to the details of our daily lives to maintain physical and mental well-being under the scorching sun.

This article will provide you with a scientific summer health guide from the perspective of "four dos and four donts," helping you avoid the pitfalls of the scorching heat and enjoy a healthy and happy summer.

Avoid the Pitfalls of the Scorching Heat and Protect Your Physical and Mental Oasis: Four Don'ts

Don't Cool Down Too Much and Harm Your Body

With the summer heat, people can't help but crave air conditioning and cold food to cool down. However, excessive cooling can actually harm your body.

The human gastrointestinal tract is a part of the body with relatively more "yang" energy. Long-term exposure to cold food or drinks can cause the gastrointestinal tract to become chilled and damaged, leading to diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even affecting the digestive absorption function. Therefore, even in the unbearable heat, we should cool down moderately and avoid excessive cold stimuli.

The following suggestions can help you avoid cooling down too much and harming your body:

• Choose bland and mild foods: Green bean soup, barley porridge, and other cool and heat-clearing foods can meet your body's needs while gently nourishing your stomach.

• Avoid excessive consumption of cold food: Although ice cream, iced drinks, and other cold desserts can quickly cool you down, they can easily irritate your stomach. It is recommended to consume them in moderation and keep your abdomen warm.

• Maintain a regular diet and avoid overeating: Regular eating habits help maintain normal gastrointestinal function, while avoiding overeating can reduce the burden on the stomach.

Don't Let the Cold Wind Invade Your Body

Air conditioners and electric fans are summer's "magic weapons" for cooling down. However, prolonged exposure to cold air can also harm your body.

Cold air invading the body can easily cause chills, leading to colds, coughs, and even aggravating symptoms of chronic diseases such as arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, when enjoying the coolness brought by air conditioners, you should also pay attention to adjusting the temperature and time appropriately.

The following suggestions can help you avoid letting the cold wind invade your body:

• Adjust the air conditioning temperature reasonably: Too much of a temperature difference between indoors and outdoors can cause discomfort. It is recommended to set the air conditioner temperature to around 26C and ventilate regularly.

• Avoid prolonged exposure to air conditioning: Prolonged exposure to cold air can make you feel cold. When using air conditioning, it is recommended to control the time and wear a thin jacket to avoid getting cold.

• Ventilate regularly: Keep the air circulating indoors to reduce the stimulation of cold air on your body and ensure fresh air indoors.

Don't Be Exposed to the Scorching Sun

Summer sunlight is particularly strong. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause sunburn, redness, and even increase the risk of skin cancer. Therefore, it is crucial to take sun protection measures to protect your skin.

The following suggestions can help you avoid being exposed to the scorching sun:

• Choose sun hats, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing: These items can effectively block ultraviolet rays and protect your skin.

• Avoid the most intense sunlight: The most intense sunlight is between 10 am and 3 pm. It is recommended to avoid outdoor activities during this time.

• Apply sunscreen: Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out and reapply regularly. Choose sunscreen with SPF30 or higher and PA++ or higher for more effective sun protection.

Don't Plunge Your Body into Cold Water

Many people enjoy taking cold showers to cool down and relieve the heat. However, suddenly plunging into cold water can cause pores to shrink, the body to become cold, leading to colds, abdominal pain, and even aggravating the symptoms of chronic diseases such as rheumatism and arthritis.

The following suggestions can help you avoid plunging your body into cold water:

• Choose warm or slightly warm water for showering: Warm or slightly warm water can effectively cleanse your body without irritating the pores, preventing your body from becoming cold.

• Dry your body promptly after showering: Dry your body promptly after showering to prevent the surface moisture from evaporating and taking away heat, causing your body to become cold.

• Massage your body appropriately: After showering, you can massage your body appropriately to promote blood circulation, relieve fatigue, and improve sleep quality.

Embrace the Summer's Enthusiasm and Enjoy a Healthy Life: Four Dos

Do Maintain a Balanced Diet

Summer is hot, and people tend to lose their appetites and become picky eaters. However, even in the summer heat, we must ensure a balanced nutritional intake to better resist the discomfort brought by high temperatures.

The following suggestions can help you maintain a balanced diet:

• Consume foods rich in vitamin C: Citrus fruits, kiwifruits, and other foods rich in vitamin C can help improve immunity and enhance resistance.

• Eat more vegetables and fruits: Cucumbers, tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables can not only replenish water but also provide vitamins and regulate bodily functions.

• Choose bland and easily digestible foods: Summer is suitable for bland diets. Avoid oily and spicy foods and choose bland and easily digestible foods such as porridge, noodles, and vegetables.

• Ensure adequate water intake: Drinking plenty of water can help detoxify the body and cool down, while also replenishing the water lost in the body, maintaining a balance of body fluids.

Do Get Moderate Exercise

Summer is hot, and people tend to stay indoors, reducing their exercise levels. However, a lack of exercise can not only lead to obesity but also affect mood and sleep, reducing the body's resistance. Therefore, even in the summer heat, we should pay attention to moderate exercise to maintain good health.

The following suggestions can help you get moderate exercise:

• Choose to exercise in the morning or evening: The temperature is relatively lower in the morning and evening, making it more suitable for outdoor exercise.

• Choose a comfortable form of exercise: Morning running, evening swimming, yoga, Pilates, and other forms of exercise can not only exercise the body but also enjoy the summer scenery.

• Pay attention to the intensity of exercise: The intensity of exercise should not be too high, avoiding excessive sweating and leading to physical exhaustion.

Do Open Windows for Ventilation

To avoid the heat, many people choose to close their windows and turn on the air conditioner to cool down. However, staying in a closed environment for long periods can lead to air pollution and affect health. Therefore, maintaining air circulation and ventilation is essential.

The following suggestions can help you keep the air circulating in your home:

• Choose to ventilate in the morning and evening: The temperature is relatively lower in the morning and evening, and the air quality is relatively better, making it suitable for ventilation.

• Turn on the air conditioner for "filtering" and "circulation": Turning on the air conditioner for "filtering" and "circulation" can also effectively renew the indoor air and keep the air fresh.

• Clean the air conditioner filter regularly: Regularly cleaning the air conditioner filter can effectively prevent bacteria from breeding and ensure indoor air quality.

Do Adjust Your Sleep Schedule

Summer is hot, and people are prone to insomnia and anxiety, affecting their normal sleep routine. Therefore, adjusting your sleep schedule and ensuring adequate sleep are crucial for maintaining good health.

The following suggestions can help you adjust your sleep schedule:

• Choose a bland dinner: Avoid oily and spicy dinners to reduce the burden on your stomach, which can help improve sleep quality.

• Avoid staying up late: Adequate sleep is an important guarantee for maintaining good health. Avoid staying up late and ensure enough sleep time.

• Take a nap for extra sleep: Taking a nap can effectively replenish sleep, relieve fatigue, and improve work efficiency in the afternoon.

• Relax your mind: Relaxing methods such as listening to music, drinking tea, or reading can effectively relieve stress and anxiety, keeping you in a good mood.

Conclusion

The Dog Days of Summer are like a "scorching" "exam paper," and each of us needs to have our own "answer sheet" under this "exam paper." By adopting a scientific lifestyle and a healthy mindset, we can embrace the enthusiasm of summer, meet the challenges, and achieve health, happiness, and growth under the scorching sun.

We hope that in your daily life, you can keep in mind the "four dos and four donts" summer health guide, avoid the pitfalls of the scorching heat, protect your physical and mental oasis, embrace the enthusiasm of summer, enjoy a healthy life, and become like a "sunflower," blooming under the sunshine, radiating radiant light!