Beat the heat

The scorching summer heat is hard on our bodies, our moods, and our electric bills. Don’t let the temperature get you down!  These tips will help you keep cool even if it feels like the sun is out to get you.

• Stay Hydrated -Ok, ok… I know this one seems painfully obvious. Hydration during the warm months is crucial.In the U.S. about 9,000 people die from heat each year.
• Block the sun. Closing curtains and blinds (ideally with sun-deflecting white on the window side) can reduce the amount of heat that passes into your home by as much as 45 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Skip the drying cycle on the dishwasher. Instead, leave the door open to let the dishes dry. And put off using the dishwasher until evening, when the air is cooler.
• Dress right. Wear one of the widely available synthetic fabrics designed to wick away sweat and that sticky feeling (examples include Coolmax and Nano-Tex); they’re not just for athletes anymore. If you prefer cotton, make it thin, light colored, and, most of all, loose. Shuck your shoes. As the sweat on your feet evaporates, it cools the skin and the blood in your feet.
• Beat the heat in your bed. Chill your bed by folding sheets and pillowcases, placing them in plastic bags, and sticking them in the freezer for a few hours, according to mothernaturenetwork.com.
• Wear Sunscreen! Nothing knocks good days off a summer calendar like a nasty sunburn. When outdoors, use sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15.
• Eat spicy food. If you’re already sweating, why would you want to sweat more? Professor of food science at Penn State University Luke LaBorde offers this answer: eating spicy food increases blood circulation and makes you sweat, so you’ll feel cooler as the sweat dries.
•  Swim! Take a dip in a local swimming hole, public pool, or even a kiddie pool in your backyard! There’s nothing better than submerging in cold water on a hot summer day.

Here are some fun ways to enjoy the summer around town:

~ Visit Peacock Parks Pool on  1503 Herring Street, Goldsboro, NC.

~ Goldsboro YMCA Pool 919-778-8557

~ Sprinkler Fun Days Free everything Thursday 3-4pm at Cornerstone Commons

~ Visit the Cliffs of Neuse 11-acre swimming lake with a bathhouse, grass-covered lawn, sandy beach and diving platform with rental boats available. No Rip tides or sharks. The swim lake offers swimming and paddling rentals that include canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. The concession stand offers drinks and food including burgers, pizzas, hot pockets, and assorted ice cream snacks. Hours this season for the lake will run 10:00 a.m.-6 p.m.

Why not try this delicious chilly dessert to cool you down in that summer heat!

STRAWBERRY ORANGE POPSICLES

By Donella Crigger

• 5-6 strawberries, frozen
• 2-3 orange slices (optional)
• 1 c. orange juice
• ¼ c. milk
• 2-3 tbsp. white sugar

INSTRUCTIONS