It's Hot So Hydrate

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Today in NYC, it's going to be 100 degrees...nirvana for me as I love the heat and how good it feels on my bones...but, I won't forget to drink a LOT of water!  People...don't forget to drink boatloads of water in this heat.  It doesn't matter if you're exercising, walking the streets or just sitting in the park under a tree.  You will dehydrate in this heat and you need to drink water.  If you have a pet, keep it inside with the air conditioner and bowls of water.  Take slow walks with your dog very early in the morning or late at night...remember, their toes will burn on the hot asphalt.  Check in on the elderly and sick and ensure they have proper hydration and cooling systems.  And if you suffer from asthma, stay inside!  Me?  I'll be baking my ol' creaky knees in the heat, but I will be in the shade and not without a huge bottle of water. Stay smart and be cool!

How To Manage In This Heat

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  I love this really warm weather; feels good on my bones and makes me feel good all over.  Most of you would disagree, so here's how you beat the heatwave and bask in its comfort:  stay off the alcohol.  If you indulge, do it when the sun has gone down and have a rose' wine or something very light.  Eat salads, fresh fruits....no red meat (it's warming properties are like rocket fuel), and reduce your carbohydrate and sugar intake.  Breathe slowly, walk slowly and dress in appropriate materials that breathe (cotton, linen, etc).  Above all, stay calm and peaceful.  Summertime is supposed to be hot, so embrace and enjoy it!

What You Should Know About HeatStroke...It's NO JOKE!

I remember Muay Thai training in the summertime one particularly hot year.  Sometimes, we would become so hot, we would actually shiver and feel like we were 'freezing'; light-headed, dizzy and rather nauseaus.  This was not a good thing...this was heatstroke!!  I had the habit of getting out of my gloves and running cold water over my head and torso at the bathroom sink; putting the gloves back on and being stupid for another hour or so because I thought I wasn't tough enough.  Now, I'm not saying this was the smartest way to train, and now that I know better, I don't condone nor do I endorse this type of heat training to that level of discomfort.
Here's what happens when a person exercises in the heat:  the blood is diverted away from the internal organs and goes to the dermal (skin) layer to cool the body.  The hotter a person becomes, the less blood circualtion the organs, muscles and bones receive (this can be as much as 25%!).  This is hazardous to the health as there can be kidney, heart, liver and intestinal damage.  "Leaky Gut" syndrome can occur where bacterial invasion of the internal organs can result in inflamation, sepsis and potential death.
Heat exhuastion and Heatstroke also manifests when a person becomes so hot, they collapse, become delirious or sink into a coma.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you or anyone you are with (including pets) believe you are experiencing heat exhaustion or heat stroke...use some common sense and stop the activity or exercise immediately!  Ice baths, cold water or cold towels to immediately cool the body is a must.  Sit down, rest and hydrate with cold water.  Take it easy for the next few days and allow your body to recover from 'heat shock'.

The Heat's On - Take Care of Fido

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  It's going to be 80 degrees or more today in Manhattan.  Summer's here, so be smart.  Drink plenty of water and if you're out with your favorite furry Fido friend, don't forget that dogs need more water than you do!  Their foot pads are sensitive to the hot asphalt and can burn.  Dogs are also sensitive to sun and can get sunburnt, so don't leave them out to bake.  Make certain your favorite friend has shade and if in an apartment during the day, turn on the a/c and leave plenty of water for them.  Leave the bathroom door open, so if your pet is hot, he or she can go lie down on the cool tiles.
We love our dogs, so let's take good care of them!