Dr. Oz and Healthy Ideas for the Summer
Food poisoning continues to be an issue when people are in a hurry, don’t know how to keep food at safe temperatures, do not store food properly, or don’t anticipate the problems that the hot summer heat gives you with food that can allow pathogens to multiply quickly and contaminate your food.
It could be salmonella, eColi, botulinum, or any other pathogen that might be present in your food which can multiply rapidly when heat is present or refrigeration is not as cold as it needs to be to prevent the growth of these pathogens. Egg salad, potato salad, and so many other summer dishes that we like to take with us on picnics or eat outdoors at a BBQ are prone to this problem. There are some basic things that you can do to prevent food poisoning and fix food poisoning this summer.
If you do get food poisoning, take some drops of GSE and mix them into pure water and sip the mix gradually, yet regularly every hour for a couple of days until you feel that your body has fully recovered. Make a kudzu pudding to cleanse your digestive system, especially if you’ve suffered from loose stools.
Dr. Oz suggested that you pack the food items that you are going to eat first on the top of the cooler or picnic basket. The different food items can be packed separately, so less handling occurs and reduces the risk for contamination. There are neat lunch boxes that have containers and compartments which keep different foods separate. There are excellent containers which are sealed and designed to remain cool. There are also solutions that are better than ice to keep the contents of your basket or cooler safer and at the appropriate temperature. Use this new technology to maintain safe temps while you’re out in the hot sun.
Rather than keeping your cooler in the back of the SUV; take it under a tree with branches that will keep it cooler under the sun that the inside of a vehicle. You know how hot it can get if you don’t have the windows rolled down in a car when it sits in the sun making it unsuitable for children, pets, and food.
We used to keep our coolers or containers sunken in the river or the creek which was always about twenty degrees or cooler than the ambient air temperature. If you anchor it with a rock or a rope, it won’t float downstream. If you are catching fish for your dinner, this is a good way to keep them cool, too.
If you can freeze certain foods before leaving the house for the beach or the mountains or the visit to the park; then they will defrost slowly and stay cold longer. If you can eat foods that don’t require refrigeration; then that’s even better. Fresh fruit, dried fruit, crackers, nuts, seeds, and many types of veggies are relatively fine at room temperature or out on a picnic table or in the boat. Dips are more delicate, so a bean dip for chips will be better than guacamole.
If you decide to grill, do not char your food. We blogged about this a few days ago, so check out that post for more ideas.
If you must use a sunscreen while you are out in direct sunlight, use a natural brand in order to keep your skin supple with the nutrients that are contained in these healthy alternatives to regular sunscreen products. Aveeno and other companies are making some superior sunscreens that both adults and children can use safely. Europeans have been using olive oil on the skin that is exposed to the sun while people living in tropical regions use coconut oil to keep their skin healthy in climates that see sunny days all year long.
You’ll be amazed at just how wonderful a water spritzer feels on an hourly basis while you are outside in the sun. It’s even better for your skin when you add some chamomile tea or essential oils of chamomile or lavender. Lavender Essential Oil works for sunburns as well as other burns. So does MSM lotion and helps to reduce the redness and the pain of a sunburn! The best advice is to only stay in the direct sunlight for a short period of time to prevent sunburns in the first place. If you must, use an organic cotton shirt with a hood to protect your neck and shoulders.
Drink plenty of pure water while you are outdoors in the sunlight to keep your body hydrated properly. If you can put elecrolytes or lemon juice in your water…that’s even better. Your body uses trace minerals when you are active. It’s good to replenish these minerals throughout the entire day while you are engaged in any activity or while traveling. Schedule frequent stops along your trip to snack and have a cool refreshing drink on any outing. Your body will fare better when it is constantly nourished and watered. It’s easy to forget that when it’s hot, the perspiration and evaporation of water and moisture from your body occurs naturally. Drink refreshing beverages like Brain Toniq and organic Lemonade instead of soda pop or gas station drinks. Resist the urge to freeze your brain and stress your stomach from a beverage that’s too cold. A nice cool towel on your face will often be enough to cool you down on even the hottest days.
If it gets too hot, go inside and find something to do until later in the early evening when it begins to cool down again. Don’t go out at high noon and get exhausted from extreme heat at that time, and plan your activities according to the weather you expect to encounter outdoors. If you need to cool down, find a store that has air conditioning and shop instead of passing out in a hot car or in the park without trees and shade. Check out the area when you go to an outdoor concert or a festival for alternative places nearby that can be a respite if you need a cooler area for awhile.
