With summer heating up you'll want to keep your cool, but here are a few ways that heat actually can be beneficial to your health. The sun's shining and the temperature is rising, so why on earth are we talking about adding more heat to your life? Because heat can reduce your summer allergies, improve your circulation and promote quicker healing. Interested? Then turn up the dial.
Heat responsibly.
Before we get started, note that we're not advocating sitting out by the pool for hours. The heat treatments we'll be talking about are pretty specific. Try them in the summer to see what works for you so that when fall and winter come around, you'll have a good routine in place. If you have any type of heart disease, diabetes, anemia or another serious medical condition, including pregnancy, consult your doctor before giving these treatments a try.
Alleviate your allergies.
Outdoor allergies don't take a summer break, but this homeopathic heat trick created by specialized cancer clinics in Mexico could help stave them off. All you have to do is soak your head in hot water (or a hot towel) for 15 to 30 seconds and then quickly switch to cold water for another 15 to 30 seconds, four to six times in a row, nonstop. This hot/cold immersion will get your circulatory system going into overdrive to promote good blood flow, and it also helps relieve clogged sinuses. To maximize the treatment's effects, drink 8 ounces of 100% fruit juice afterward to replace the electrolytes you sweated out during the process.
Heat up your skin before you ice it down.
Sore muscles from yard work and summer activities are inevitable. However, before you ice them down, heat them up. Placing a hot towel or heat pad on the sore area for 15 minutes can help relieve joint or muscle pain by increasing blood flow and improving oxygen supply. After the heat, immediately ice the sore area for 15 minutes to maximize the healing benefits. If your muscles are still sore afterward, wait a few hours before you repeat the process to give your skin some time to recover.
Give these heat treatments a try and you'll see and feel the benefits of turning up the temperature all year long.
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