Four Dos and Seven Don'ts for Summer Health
First, the mind should be kept clear
In the height of summer's extreme heat, people are prone to feeling stuffy, uneasy, drowsy, and irritable. Therefore, the first step is to calm your mind, achieve a state of mental clarity and emotional composure, for a calm heart naturally brings coolness.
Second, the diet should be light
The diet in hot summer should be mainly light, soft, and easy to digest, with less intake of high-fat, rich, and spicy foods that can cause internal heat. A light diet can clear heat, prevent summer heat, reduce sweating, replenish fluids, and also stimulate the appetite. Eating plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits can not only meet the body's nutritional needs but also prevent heatstroke.
The staple food should be light porridge, such as mung bean congee, lotus seed congee, or lotus leaf congee. You can drink some cool beverages, such as sour plum soup or chrysanthemum tea. However, cold drinks should be consumed in moderation; do not have a preference for overly cold items, as this can damage the body's yin and harm your health. Additionally, consuming some vinegar can not only promote the production of saliva and whet the appetite but also inhibit and kill germs, preventing gastrointestinal diseases.
Third, the living environment should be cool
In the morning and evening, the indoor temperature is low, so windows and doors should be opened for ventilation. At noon, the outdoor temperature is much higher than indoors, so doors and windows must be tightly closed, curtains drawn, or an additional layer of gauze added to keep the heat outside. This cool indoor environment will calm the mind and spirit, making naps and rest more comfortable.
Fourth, recreation should be in quiet and pleasant places
During the hot summer, avoid long-distance treks; instead, seek out nearby quiet spots. In the early morning, as the first light of dawn breaks and the air is fresh, you can take walks and exercise in lush gardens to expel stale air and take in fresh energy. In the evening, after the sun has set, you can stroll by the riverside or lakeside. The gentle breeze will calm your mind like water and relieve the fatigue of the day.
The summer climate is hot, with long days and short nights. Compared to other seasons, people should pay more attention to health and wellness in terms of clothing, food, housing, and daily activities. Women, in particular, have more considerations regarding makeup and clothing.
Seven Don'ts for Women's Summer Health
One, Don't use unboiled water
Unboiled water refers to cold water that has not been boiled. It contains many pathogenic bacteria, such as those causing sexually transmitted diseases. If used to wash the perineum, viruses in the water can adhere to the vulva, labia majora and minora, or enter the vagina through breaks, where they can grow and cause disease.
Two, Don't shave armpit hair
Some people think that armpit hair is unsightly when exposed in short-sleeved or sleeveless summer outfits, so they cut it with scissors or even shave it off with a razor. In fact, this is harmful to health and can easily cause bacterial infections in the armpit area, leading to local pain and discomfort, as well as symptoms like swollen lymph nodes.
Three, Don't wear metal jewelry
In the summer, people sweat more. The nickel and chromium in metal jewelry like earrings, necklaces, and bracelets can dissolve in sweat and seep into the skin, causing contact dermatitis.
Four, Don't wear long silk stockings for extended periods
In the hot summer, the pores on the skin are dilated to release heat and maintain normal body temperature. Wearing long silk stockings for a long time not only prevents the pores from dilating and affects sweat excretion, but the metabolic products in the sweat can also irritate the skin, causing itching and even dermatitis.
Five, Nighttime skincare should not use daytime cosmetics
During sleep, the body is relaxed and the pores naturally dilate, making it easier for the skin to absorb nutrients from cosmetics. However, nighttime skincare should not use the semi-solid cosmetics commonly used during the day, such as lotions, creams, and pastes, because these products can easily clog pores, preventing the skin from smoothly undergoing metabolism. Therefore, nighttime beauty treatments should use water-based cosmetics, which do not clog pores, do not affect the skin's respiration, and do not interfere with the normal secretion of sweat glands. They are also more easily absorbed by the skin.
Six, Don't spray perfume indiscriminately
Some women believe that the more perfume they spray, the better, applying it all over their face and chest. This is incorrect. Areas where perfume is applied can undergo chemical changes when exposed to sunlight, causing redness, stinging, and pain. In severe cases, it can develop into dermatitis.
The correct method is: apply perfume to the temples, behind the ears, the nape of the neck, the inside of the elbows, the wrists, the inside of the knees, and the inner hem of a skirt. Adding a few drops of perfume to the final rinse water when washing hair can make its fragrance last longer. Additionally, you can spray some perfume on handkerchiefs, shirts, and accessories.
Seven, Don't overapply cosmetics
Excessive use of lipstick can cause the oils in it to seep into the skin. It also has the side effect of attracting airborne dust, various metal molecules, and pathogenic microorganisms. Through the breakdown of saliva, these harmful bacteria can enter the mouth, easily causing "lip allergy." Reapplying eye shadow heavily around the eyes can cause sweat to wash the shadow into the eyes. If you then rub your eyes, you can easily introduce bacteria, leading to trachoma or conjunctivitis.