What do we know about pooping? Well, we know that maintaining regular bowel movements is a key indicator of good digestive health. The frequency of bowel movements, however, can vary widely among people. When you understand what constitutes “normal” bowel habits, you can make the necessary changes or seek medical advice to maintain optimal digestion. So how often should you poop? Continue reading to find out. 

How Often Should You Poop?

Bowel frequency is an interesting topic of conversation. Many health experts suggest that it is perfectly normal to have anywhere from three bowel movements per day to three per week. One study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology confirmed that information, regardless of age or gender. There is also no general answer for how often you should poop, but people tend to have their daily bowel movement habits. If you poop three times per week or less, something is going on. We always say that eliminating between one to three times per day is an indication of optimal digestive health.

What Affects Poop Frequency?

Hydration

When you drink enough water, your stool softens and becomes easier to pass. That is why staying hydrated is an important factor for maintaining regular bowel movements. According to research, increasing your fiber and fluid intake can significantly enhance stool frequency. One study showed that participants who consumed 25 grams of fiber daily, in addition to two liters of water, showed greater improvements in stool frequency than those with lower fiber and fluid intake. 

Stress

Emotional stress and poor mental health can actually alter your bowel habits and affect frequency. Research suggests that psychological stress can influence functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A little stress can make it more difficult to empty the stomach, which stimulates colonic transit. That ultimately leads to alterations in stool consistency and frequency. Another study involved 10- to 16-year-olds and found that exposure to stressful life events was linked to bowel movements that occurred less than three times per week. Additionally, those bowel movements were often painful or strained. More research on children between the ages of nine and 10 found that psychological stress and negative family factors increased the rate of constipation. 

Physical Activity

It is well-documented that regular exercise stimulates peristalsis, the intestinal contractions that encourage bowel movements. One analysis found that vigorous exercise positively influenced women, but results were mixed among male participants. Another study found that moderate exercise, such as cycling or jogging, accelerated gut transit time, but did not alter stool weight or frequency. Additionally, a Nurses’ Health Study suggests that daily physical activity can lower the risk of constipation. 

Diet

Increasing fiber intake from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can influence stool frequency. It is rather unsurprising, then, that vegetarian and vegans tend to have more frequent bowel movements than meat-eaters. That isn’t to say that all vegans and vegetarians have optimal regularity, but they do tend to eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains than meat-eaters. Another study found that increasing fiber intake increased stool frequency and made stool softer. Vegans with the highest fiber intake experience the most frequent bowel movements, even more than vegetarians and omnivores.  

What Does The Consistency Of Your Pooping Mean?

Both the consistency and frequency of stool is integral to overall health. The Bristol Stool Form Scale classifies stool types from 1 (hard lumps) to 7 (watery liquid). You want to be somewhere around type 3 or 4, which is considered normal. These types are well-formed stools that are easy to pass, meaning they are soft and sausage- or snake-like. You can support healthy pooping by: 

• Stay hydrated: drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day. If you weigh 150 pounds and divide that by two to get. 75, you should drink 75 ounces of water per day.
• Exercise regularly: Movement leads to movement, if you catch our drift. Walking, jogging, swimming, and other forms of light to moderate exercise can benefit your digestive health. 
• Increase fiber intake: Ideally, aim to consume 25-30 grams of fiber per day. Aim to get your fiber from fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. 
• Manage your stress: Experiment with different stress-reducing techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises to reduce stress and promote healthy bowel movements.

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As summer reaches its peak, gardens and markets overflow with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. These produce items are in their prime, and eating seasonally means that you are tasting the freshest items with the most nutrients. Not to mention, these produce items are often at the best prices. 

August is a great time to find fruits and vegetables that may not be in season for much longer. Get your hands on them while the gettin’s good for the final month of summer. You can enjoy crisp vegetables, juicy melons, and a variety of stone fruit. Incorporating seasonal produce items into your diet can not only enhance your meals, but also boost your health. What’s in season during August? Continue reading to learn about a variety of August’s best fruits and vegetables. 

August Fruits That Are In Season

Peaches

Nothing quite like a juicy, refreshing peach on a hot summer day. You can always differentiate a peach from a nectarine because the skin is slightly fuzzy. They come in yellow and white varieties and boast high amounts of vitamins A & C, fiber, antioxidants, and other plant compounds that support digestion and boost immune function. Eat them raw or add them to salads, smoothies, desserts, and more. 

Berries

Blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are low-carb fruits that burst with intense flavor and nutrients. All berries are naturally rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, but they also offer vitamin K and fiber. Many research studies confirm that berries contain plant compounds that support brain health and aid inflammation reduction. Enjoy berries in their raw form, or add them to salads, jams, sauces, dressings, or yogurt. 

Mango

Take a trip to the tropics when you indulge in mangos this summer. Packed with lots of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins A & C, mangos may help support eye health and immune function. Mango is a great fruit to enjoy on its own, but spice things up by seasoning it with some chili powder and lime juice. You can also add mango to smoothies, salads, salsas, chutneys, and desserts. 

Kiwi

Coming in golden and green varieties, kiwis are small fruits that exhibit a slightly sweet and tart flavor. The green kiwis are a bit more sour than the golden ones. They exhibit an impressive vitamin C content, but also offer fiber, antioxidants, vitamin E, and other nutrients that work to enhance immune and digestive function. Slice and enjoy raw, or add to fruit salads, smoothies, and desserts. 

Papaya

With a sweet flavor and soft orange flesh, papaya is a beautiful fruit to enjoy this summer. If you can, get your hands on a Hawaiian papaya, as that type is much sweeter and more flavorful than the larger ones from Mexico. Papayas are naturally rich in vitamins A & C, in addition to papain, a powerful enzyme that benefits gut health. Eat papaya raw with a spoon (just remove the seeds), or add to desserts, puddings, smoothies, salads, and more. 

August Vegetables That Are In Season

Bell Peppers

Did you know that bell peppers contain more vitamin C than oranges? These green, yellow, orange, and red peppers are sweet summer veggies that offer impressive antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins A & C. Studies confirm that they help sustain eye health and enhance immune function. Enjoy them in salads, in stir-fry dishes, on sandwiches, roasted, or grilled. 

Green Beans

Tender, crisp, and highly refreshing with a subtly sweet flavor, green beans provide a lot of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Green beans have been known to boost eye health and enhance the digestive process. You can add them to salads, enjoy them as a snack, or steam, sauté, air-fry, or grill these nutritious summer veggies. 

Okra

One of the things that people dislike about okra is the slimy texture. That is also why people bread and fry this vegetable, which unfortunately makes it unhealthy. Make okra healthier by grilling it or sautéing it with a little olive oil, onion, and garlic. It is naturally rich in vitamins C & K, antioxidants, fiber, and other plant compounds that aid heart function. 

Spinach

Spinach is one of the most easily accessible leafy greens. Although you can typically find it in grocery stores year round, it is a summer vegetable. It has a mild, subtly sweet flavor and is rich in iron, magnesium, folate, vitamins A, C, & K, and valuable antioxidants. Some studies indicate that spinach offers anti-inflammatory properties and may protect eye health. Consume it raw in salads or smoothies, or sauté or steam spinach. You can even add it to soups or casseroles. 

Tomatoes

Although technically a fruit, tomatoes are typically associated with and used like vegetables. They come in various sizes, colors, and shapes, especially if you get heirloom varieties, which offer the best flavor. Tomatoes are naturally rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that benefits heart health and may reduce the risk of certain cancers. Enjoy tomatoes on sandwiches, in salads, soups, sauces, and roasted dishes, or snack on cherry tomatoes.

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The mighty pineapple is more than a drink garnish or beach snack. It is as nutritious as it is delicious and tropical, delivering a hefty dose of vitamins and minerals in every bite. Pineapple provides lots of vitamin C, vitamin B1, potassium, manganese, and an array of other compounds that may offer protection from disease formation. In fact, pineapple has been used as a remedy for everything from allergies to indigestion.

What Is Pineapple?

Besides the health perks, pineapple is relatively easy to find, inexpensive, and very versatile. Researchers refer to pineapple as the most economically significant plant in the Bromeliaceae plant family. Most of the fruit’s healing powers come from bromelain, a protein-digesting enzyme, specifically a protease enzyme. Most of the bromelain is found in the core, with lesser amounts existing in the more edible fruit. 

For many years, pineapple has had a place in many homeopathic remedies. The reason for this is because its compounds work to break down proteins into smaller amino acids and peptides in the body. In fact, studies have found that pineapple acts as an anti-swelling and anti-inflammatory agent. It is also a great source of bioflavonoids, tannins, and phytochemicals, which work to fight oxidative stress. 

High In Fiber

Studies show that consuming foods that are rich in fiber can help lower your risk of chronic diseases, including colorectal cancer. Fiber also helps you feel full by regulating your blood glucose levels. The high fiber content and nutritional value means that you will feel full without consuming a lot of calories. Does that make pineapple a weight loss food? Not entirely, but it can help promote regular bowel movements and reduce bloating. 

Works To Protect Against Cardiovascular Disease

According to several studies, pure pineapple juice exhibits cardioprotective properties. Researchers attribute this ability to the high vitamin C and potassium content. High potassium intake is associated with lower risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Potassium also helps to protect against muscle loss, reduce the formation of kidney stones, and preserve bone mineral density. A randomized, single-blind, controlled study in Iraq observed 52 obese adults with type 2 diabetes. They were treated for over eight weeks, with the intervention group receiving 500-milligram bromelain capsules twice daily, in addition to their regular metformin regimen. The controlled group only received metformin. After eight weeks, the bromelain group showed significant reduces in body max index and improvements in insulin resistance. 

Offers Nutrients For Mental Health

A study from 2020 found that consuming fruits and vegetables with a lot of nutrients may be crucial in preventing depressive disorders. Complex carbohydrates and antioxidants found in pineapple may help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Tryptophan, an amino acid, in pineapple has demonstrated an ability to boost your mood and increase feelings of happiness. Consuming enough tryptophan, in addition to the other nutrients in pineapple, may benefit your neurological system by encouraging the production of hormones that boost your mood.

Reduces Inflammation

Pure pineapple juice may help those suffering from arthritis and joint pain. Once again, the enzyme bromelain is the reason! It exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is also beneficial for treating sports injuries, including sprains. Essentially, bromelain works to block metabolites that cause swelling. It also helps to decrease active swelling by activating a chemical in the blood that breaks down fibrin, which ultimately reduces swelling. One study on patients with sinusitis found that bromelain increased recovery time significantly faster than standard therapy. 

Aids Digestion

Yet again, you can thank bromelain for this! Pineapple works to break down protein into peptides and amino acids. In addition to benefitting overall digestion, pineapple may help ease the symptoms of acid reflux and ulcerative colitis. That suggests that bromelain can modulate inflammatory signaling in the colon tissue, potentially reducing inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis. Bromelain also seems to help prevent autoimmune responses that result from common food allergies. Several studies indicate that eating pineapple may help people who have celiac disease, an allergy to gluten, due to the presence of bromelain. 

Rich In Vitamin C

Although pineapple doesn’t have a lot of calories, it does boast a lot of vitamin C. Not only does vitamin C work to encourage the formation of collagen, but it also supports immune function and minimizes cold and flu symptoms. Several studies suggest that children and adults who consume fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C content may experience protection against infections, both viral and bacterial. Vitamin C is water-soluble that helps maintain the health of the body’s connective tissues. It also acts as an antioxidant, working to fight free radicals and synthesize collagen.

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One of the scariest things about heat stroke is that people are not aware of when they are in danger until it’s too late. By the time symptoms occur, you are too confused or delirious due to nerve damage. If you want to ensure that your health is never in harm’s way during hot weather, take preventative measures to hydrate the body and keep yourself cool. Additionally, avoid actions that increase your risk of developing heat stroke, such as engaging in hot yoga or exercising in direct sunlight. 

What Is Heat Stroke?

Heat stroke is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is no longer able to regulate its internal temperature. That causes core temperature to rise rapidly, typically to temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. That is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate attention to save your life. Without prompt treatment, heat stroke can result in organ damage, brain injury, or even death. The two primary types of heat stroke are:

• Classic (non-exertional) heat stroke: This type of heat stroke affects vulnerable populations, including young children, older adults, and people with chronic illnesses. It usually occurs after prolonged exposure to high temperatures in poorly ventilated areas during heat waves. You do not need to physically exert yourself to develop this type of heat stroke. 
• Exertional heat stroke: This type of heat stroke affects healthy, active individuals, especially military personnel, laborers, and athletes. They perform intense physical activity in hot and humid conditions, and heat stroke can progress rapidly. 

Once the body’s core temperature rises, all of the innate processes that are in place to regulate core temperature break down. That creates serious, life-threatening problems, such as loss of consciousness or organ damage. If the heat index is higher than 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the number of deaths caused by heat illness increases. Do your best to stay cool and prevent heat-related illness and heat stroke with the following tips. 

Avoid Sugary Drinks, Caffeine, And Alcohol

Hydration is the goal when the weather is hot, so there is no sense in drinking beverages that dehydrate the body. Avoid sugary drinks, alcohol, and caffeine because they dehydrate the body by increasing urination and expediting electrolyte loss. Consuming too much sugar can also lead to inflammation, which makes heat stroke even worse. Sports drinks are marketed to keep you hydrated during physical activity, but many of them contain excess sugar and added chemicals. Opt for a natural electrolyte drink instead, such as unsweetened coconut water, mineral water, and even pickle juice. 

Check Your Medications

There are many medications that can increase the risk of heat stroke. The reason for this is because they affect how the body reacts to the heat, or they interfere with your salt and water balance. Some medications that can alter the body’s ability to deal with hotter temperatures are:

• Laxatives 
• Diuretics
• Antihistamines
• Antibiotics
• Medications for seizures
• Antipsychotics 
• Antidepressants
• Drugs for heart disease, cholesterol, and blood pressure

Drink Lots Of Water

The most important thing you can do for the body when the weather is scorching is to drink a lot of water. The heat makes you sweat, which means that you lose both water and electrolytes. Drink two to four cups of water every hour when you are outside or exercising. If you wait until you are thirsty to drink water, you are already in a mild state of dehydration. Keep drinking water to lower your risk of heat stroke, and make sure that your children and those higher at risk do the same. 

Eat Hydrating Foods

In addition to drinking water, you can also eat water-rich foods. Many fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other valuable electrolytes that benefit the body. These fruits and vegetables can help you maintain fluid balance, keep blood pressure levels in check, and aid with nerve signaling. Some of the best hydrating foods include:

• Watermelon
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Grapes
• Kiwi
• Coconut water
• Zucchini
• Bell peppers
• Berries
• Pineapple
• Broccoli
• Avocado
• Radishes

Avoid Direct Sunlight

If you are sensitive to hot weather, avoid heat stroke by limiting your time in direct sunlight. If you have to be outside, do your best to find shade, or bring an umbrella and hat to keep yourself shaded. Midday heat is the worst, so do your best to avoid being outside during that time of day. If you want to exercise outside, schedule your workouts earlier or later in the day when the temperatures are cooler.

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Summer is in full swing and there is no better way to celebrate warmer temps than with a delicious and refreshing fruit salsa. Think of this recipe like a pico de gallo with pizzazz. We’ve posted a recipe for strawberry salsa and a recipe for pineapple salsa, so why not combine them? Don’t pineapples and strawberries just scream summer? They are classic summer fruits that give the salsa a delightful zing.

In case you don’t know how to pick a pineapple at the store, we want to give you a little tip. Choose a larger fruit, as that will yield less waste. Tug on the top leaves of the pineapple. If they pull out easily, then the pineapple is ripe and ready to enjoy. You should not see any bruises, wrinkles, or soft spots on the pineapple, or else it will not be enjoyable. Additionally, check the bottom of the pineapple to ensure that no mold has formed on the outside. That is a definite sign of an overripe or damaged pineapple.

If you are not a big spice fan, this is the salsa for you. The jalapeño brings a hint of spice to this salsa, but it doesn’t contest with the sweetness of pineapple and strawberry. You can even leave the seeds in the salsa! The sweet fruit also helps to mellow out the intensity of the red onion. If you really want to cut the allium flavor from the onion, season the onion with salt and squeeze the lime over before adding the rest of the ingredients. Once you make the salsa and enjoy some, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.

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If you want to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet, start making smoothies. You can customize smoothies to align with your taste preferences, tailoring levels of sweetness, tartness, or bitterness to your liking. Plus, smoothies can help fill you up, provide you with lots of nutrients in one fell swoop, and help cool you down on hot summer days. 

What flavors do you want to refresh your palate during the summer months? Tropical ingredients, such as mango, pineapple, papaya, kiwi, and acai tend to do just that! You don’t have to rush out to a specialty grocery store to grab the most exotic, tropical fruits you can find. A simple banana, blueberry, spinach, and mango smoothie will do you right! If you want to mix it up, though, you can enjoy the recipes in this article. 

The Benefits Of Smoothies

Not only are smoothies delicious and refreshing, but they also provide essential nutrients that encourage optimal, overall health. Fruits, especially tropical varieties, tend to overpower the flavor of greens, which is great considering that a lot of people don’t consume enough greens every day. Spinach, however, does not exhibit strong flavor, despite the fact that it transforms the color to a rich emerald. 

Hydration is of extra importance during the summer months. Most people don’t drink enough water as it is, and tend to drink dehydrating beverages, such as soda, alcohol, or caffeinated drinks. You can enhance your hydration efforts by consuming smoothies, especially when you add water-rich fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, cucumber, citrus, or melons. 

Finally, smoothies can be a helpful tool for total weight management. Smoothies are typically low-calorie meal options, unless you add lots of nuts or nut butters. The fiber from the fruits and vegetables helps keep you feeling full and satisfied for longer periods of time, which prevents overeating. If that sounds great to you, continue reading for five healthy and refreshing summer smoothies. 

Watermelon Mint Smoothie

How refreshing! A watermelon mint smoothie is the seasonal hydrating beverage you need to cool you off on these hot summer days. 

Click here to make the smoothie. 

Cucumber Apple Smoothie

This green smoothie is a refreshing combination of crisp cucumber, crunchy and tart apple, zesty lime, herbaceous mint, and hearty kale. 

Click here to make the smoothie.

Lemon Blueberry Smoothie

A gorgeous lemon blueberry smoothie with refreshingly sweet and tart flavors. This is easy to make and you can add nutritional boosters too! 

Click here to make the smoothie.

Pineapple Grapefruit Detox Smoothie

Boost your fiber, vitamin, and mineral intake and promote detoxification by enjoying this pineapple grapefruit smoothie.

Click here to make the smoothie.

Antioxidant Beet Berry Smoothie

A bright red antioxidant beet and berry smoothie is a secret weapon for your health! Frozen bananas and dates naturally sweeten this smoothie.

Click here to make the smoothie.

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This is potentially the quickest and easiest jam you’re ever going to make. You don’t have to simmer fruit and sugar for a while until it thickens into a sugary, jammy spread. You also don’t need added sugars or pectin to yield the consistency that is common in most jams. Another reason you don’t need pectin is because dried fruit only contains 22% water, so there is no need for a thickener. This raw apricot jam has incredible depth of flavor and made entirely from dried fruit, a touch of maple syrup, and a pinch of sea salt.

Since dried fruit contains less water than fresh fruit, you want to rehydrate it prior to making the jam. By rehydrating the dried fruit, you make it softer and easier to blend. Just soak in a bowl of warm water for a few hours and be sure to discard the soaking water. The reason we decided to use dried apricots is because they, much like figs, cherries, and plums, are juicier dried fruits. Just make sure that you purchase dried apricots that are free of sulfites, added sugars, and preservatives. Those dried apricots tend to be brown in color, so your jam may not be the most picturesque orange hue you’re dreaming of, but it is chemical-free and healthier.

Just like fresh fruit jam, dried fruit jam is very versatile. Use it instead of jelly on a classic PB&J sandwich, spread it on crepes, or use it as a topping for your yogurt bowl. It should be noted that all of those suggestions are acceptable to enjoy if you are not cleansing. Should you want to enjoy this while cleansing, you can use it as a topping for banana or cashew pudding, chia pudding, or on raw vegan ice cream.

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When warmer weather arrives, so do the bugs. Insects like mosquitoes, flies, ticks, leafhoppers, hornworms, and more flock to your garden to infest your flowers and plants. If you’re sitting around the patio enjoying time with family, you don’t want to worry about bugs biting you every other second. The good news is that you can forget about trying to clap insects to their death mid-flight because there are plants that help repel bugs. 

If you don’t want to inhale the fumes of mosquito candles and torches all summer, you can plant a series of plants around your patio, pool, house, and fence to keep out unwanted pests. In addition to causing itchy bites, mosquitos and other pests can damage your gardens, crops and home. Using plants to repel insects is an eco-friendly solution to your problem. Plus, these plants add both beauty and fragrance to your home and garden. Here is a guide to many common plants that repel insects. 

Geraniums

Geraniums are quite common in patio planters, but you can also pot them or plant them in your garden to naturally repel mosquitos. These flowers not only beautify your garden, but they also release a strong fragrance that mosquitos, flies, and beetles despise. That helps you enjoy your patio or garden without worrying about bites or infestation of the fruits and vegetables in your garden. Plant some geraniums around your garden to keep those pests out. 

Mint

Fresh mint is a great plant to have in your garden because you can harvest some of it to use in culinary applications. It’s very easy to grow and has been proven to repel flies, ants, and mosquitos. It emits a wonderful fragrance and helps deter bugs from infesting other nearby plants. Planting mint near your windows or doorways can help keep irritating insects out of your house. 

Citronella

Don’t want to buy citronella candles or citronella-infused oil for tiki torches? Plant the real citronella plant in your garden or pots near your doors to keep the mosquitos out. The plant itself acts as a natural insecticide, repelling a variety of flying insects, including mosquitos. The plant can grow fairly large, so you may have to keep it under control with your garden scissors from time to time. 

Lemongrass

Similar to citronella, lemongrass gives off a powerful aroma that mosquitoes dislike. Lemongrass is tall, grassy, and ornamental, growing up to four feet tall and three feet wide in one season. Not only does the plant do a great job at repelling mosquitos, but it also adds beautiful greenery to your garden or patio. 

Lavender

Before we get into the insects that lavender repels, it is important to note that lavender blossoms can attract bees. If you are allergic to bees, planting lavender near your patio or doorways may not be the best idea. How does lavender repel bugs? It contains linalool, which is a compound that contributes to the plant’s natural aroma. Other plants also contain linalool, but lavender seems to have the highest content and is the most effective at repelling bugs. You can harvest your lavender and hang some bundles around your patio and indoors.

Marigolds

Marigolds add vibrant colors to your garden or patio planters. Ranging from red and orange to yellow, marigolds make the perfect additions to your vegetable garden bed. They help keep tomato hornworms away, so consider planting them next to your tomato plants. Marigolds are very popular summer plants that also deter plant lice, mosquitos, and even rabbits!

Chrysanthemums

The primary reason that insects avoid chrysanthemums is because the flower contains pyrethrin, a neurotoxin that kills insects. Don’t worry about your furry friends because it is safe for animals. According to research, the list of insects that these flowers repel is quite extensive, including  ants, roaches, silverfish, lice, fleas, spider mites, ticks, bedbugs, and harlequin bugs. Plus, the flowers are just stunning to look at!

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You know what’s unfortunate? It’s the fact that papaya does not get a lot of love during the summer months. Papaya is a delicious, must-try fruit that is naturally sweet and creamy. When you blend the papaya with the homemade almond milk, chia seeds, and other ingredients, the result is a smooth chia pudding that is almost less chia and more pudding. That means that if you tend to steer clear of chia pudding because of the lumpy, tapioca-like texture, this recipe is for you.

Besides being incredibly tasty and tropical, papaya is a nutrient-dense fruit. Research indicates that papaya may improve everything from blood glucose levels in people with diabetes to blood pressure levels for people prone to heart disease. Many scientists attribute papaya’s benefits to papain, a proteolytic enzyme in papaya. It works to break down proteins into smaller fragments, which is why papain is used as a meat tenderizer. Some research shows that papain may reduce inflammation related to joint conditions, in addition to neuropathic pain from fibromyalgia.

When it comes to choosing your papaya, you do not want a green one, unless you plan on making green papaya salad. There are two main varieties of papaya: Hawaiian and Mexican. The former variety is much smaller, a little more expensive, and packs a sweeter flavor than the larger Mexican papayas, which tend to have a milder flavor. Whichever papaya you choose, make sure to scoop out the seeds first before blending the flesh with the chia pudding ingredients.

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Heat stroke is a condition that occurs when the body overheats, typically as a result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures. During the summer, it is very common to experience heat stroke or heat exhaustion. If you experience a heat stroke, it is very important to seek emergency treatment as it can be a life-threatening situation. When you don’t treat heat stroke immediately, you can damage muscles, heart, kidneys, and the brain. 

The scary part about heat stroke is that you don’t always know that you are in danger of it until it’s too late. What happens is that you end up in a state of confusion or deliriousness because nerve damage takes place. If you want to keep yourself out of harm’s way this summer, you have to take steps to ensure that you are hydrated and cool. There are things you can do and things you can avoid to reduce the risk of heat-related illness. 

Heat Stroke vs. Heat Exhaustion

Heat stroke happens when the body’s ability to regulate core temperature fails, so you overheat as a result. It is the most serious phase of heat-related illness. Heat exhaustion, on the other hand, is the phase just before you experience heat stroke. You start to feel the signs of heat illness, including muscle weakness and fatigue. How does the body get to these stages, though? Well, the body regulates core temperature to maintain a constant of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, even in the hottest and coldest climates. When the mechanisms that regulate core temperature break down, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can occur. If you want to prevent this from happening and avoid heat exhaustion this summer, make sure to keep the following tips in mind. 

Avoid Direct Sunlight

Avoid heat-related illness by limiting your exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the hottest parts of the day. The sun tends to be at its hottest during midday, so make sure to find shade or remain inside during those times. If you are outside, take additional measures to protect the skin by applying sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher. 

Drink Water

When you are in the sun, it is natural to sweat because that is the body’s way of regulating core temperature. The body loses water and other minerals via sweat, though, meaning that you need to replenish that water by drinking lots of it. If you enjoy electrolyte powders, you can incorporate them into your hydration efforts as well; just don’t go for sugary electrolyte beverages. Always keep a full water bottle handy if you venture outside during the summer, and make sure to refill throughout the day. Additionally, consume more liquids if you do any sort of physical activity outside. 

Eat Hydrating Foods

In addition to drinking a lot of water, enhance your hydration efforts by eating water-rich foods. Various fruits and vegetables have high water content and contain electrolytes that can replenish the ones you lose via sweat. When you are able to maintain your fluid balance in the body, you can help keep blood pressure stable and aid with nerve signaling. Some great hydrating fruits and vegetables include carrots, watermelon, berries, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, grapefruits, kiwis, pineapples, oranges, broccoli, honeydew, cantaloupe, and grapes. 

Check Your Medications

Believe it or not, certain medications increase your risk of heat stroke. They either interfere with your salt and water balance or affect how the body reacts to heat. Medications that increase the risk of heat exhaustion include antibiotics, laxatives, diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines, blood pressure or cholesterol meds, and antipsychotics. If you take any of those medications, talk to your doctor about an increased risk of heat stroke. 

Avoid Alcohol, Caffeine, And Sugary Drinks

When you go through the effort to drink a lot of water during hot weather, the last thing you want to do is sabotage your hydration. When you focus on sugary, sweetened drinks, or beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine, you work to dehydrate the body. All of these drinks increase the need to urinate, which depletes your water and electrolyte supply. Additionally, consuming too much alcohol or sugary drinks can increase inflammation, which worsens symptoms of heat exhaustion.

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