Tips to Beat the Sweltering Heat!

   The heat is definitely on in Texas, as well as all over the US! For most of us, air conditioning is a much needed savior during these scorching months. However, you can't stay inside all the time!! Here are some tips on how to stay cool and beat the sweltering summer heat!
  If you are an exerciser, it's best to keep your activities indoor if you can. If you must jog, walk, or bike outside, it's best to do it either early in the morning or later in the evening. Just be sure to wear light reflective clothing if you choose the latter. Speaking of clothing, you should go for loose fitting, light colored clothing over tight and dark. Also, choose organic cotton over other synthetic fabrics as it will breathe better and keep you cooler!
   Another tip for staying cool? Try keeping a spray bottle with water in the fridge to refresh you after a hot day! It's also great to store your lotion or body oil in the fridge during the summer. While you're at it, keep your showers on the cool side as well to keep yourself most comfortable. Fans are a great way to keep the house cooled down, or you can even carry a portable fan to take with you on the run!
   You'll also want to drink plenty of water to keep dehydration at bay. Try to keep caffeine and alcohol consumption to a minimum as these greatly promote dehydration, especially if you are outdoors!!  You can also eat cooling foods to help lower the temp from the inside out! Try watermelon, cucumber, mint, coconut, summer squash, fennel, cilantro, and aloe vera. It's best to steer clear of anything spicy, heavy, or greasy as these will only increase the heat!
   Use your best judgement this summer, along with these tips and you will stay cool enough to enjoy this heat wave! From all of us at Azuma, have a safe and fun summer! And as always, keep it clean!! :)

Simplifying Your Commute

Want a good way to wake up in the morning without the coffee? Enjoy a cool morning breeze and the wind in your face? Want to save a little dough, be kind to the environment and stay in shape too? Try biking to work! It may seem far-fetched, but you'd be surprised how fast and easy it is to bike to most places. Here are a few tips on learning to get around.

Get your ride
This may seem obvious, but picking your bike is important. Will you be riding greenbelt trails, or urban streets? Are you a speed demon or a cruiser? There are lots of good places to find bicycles, including craigslist and freecycle. Buying a brand new bike can be very expensive, but can pay for itself in the gas you save in a few months in most cases. If buying a brand new bike isn't an option, remember that bike specialty shops can also do upgrades and repairs for relatively cheap. Updating gears, changing tires, outfitting the saddle or adjusting the handlebars to your liking are just a few of many things they can do. But mainly, be sure that everything functions tightly and smoothly, the body of the bike fits your height and posture, it's easy to shift (if you don't have a fixed gear) and that your butt is comfy in the saddle! I do recommend getting a bike with gears for your first ride, especially if there are hills in your area. You'll go a lot faster and expend less energy to get there.

Outfit yourself
Be sure to fit your bike with all the gear you'll need. The basics are reflectors (required by law in most places), headlamp (for riding when it's dark), bike lock and basket (or backpack). Be sure your bike lock is secure and that you always use it. It's handy to have a backpack or basket that is waterproof for anything you may carry, such as groceries or a briefcase. Extras you'll want to consider are reusable water bottle, change of clothes if you sweat a lot, and windbreaker that doubles as a raincoat. However keep in mind that every item you carry has the potential to weigh you down, so don't pack too much.


Find your route
Many cities provide bike trail routes and bikeable hiking trails on their local government homepage. Google now has bike routes in beta. Pick your start and end point and adjust the lines to what works for you. The best routes are ones that follow bike paths, steer clear of overcrowded streets and can cut straight through neighborhoods with few turns.

Get riding
Remember that bicyclists have to follow the same road rules as cars! Stay with the flow of traffic, stop at lights, and learn your hand signals (Stick your arm straight out to the right for a right turn, hold up your arm in an L shape for a left turn. Pointing works too.) Be extra watchful of your surroundings for cars making turns and people stepping into your path. And most importantly, OWN your space in the road! Some drivers may get cranky, but it is essential to your safety and visibility to ride in the lane and not squished against the curb where you could be sideswiped. If at all possible, make sure you can see the driver in their rearview or side mirrors. That way you know they can see you. When you're first starting out, try doing trial runs to the market or just to work and back in the evenings to get a feel for what you'll be dealing with, how sweaty you get, how fast you go and how long your ride will be. Remember that bikes shift up and down depending on speed, just like a car. If you're sailing along, shift up a gear to go even faster!

Depending on rush hour traffic, sometimes riding a bike is just as fast as riding in your car, and it is far more rewarding. With a little practice and preparation, pedaling to where you're going is fun and exhilarating. Enjoy the ride!
 

It's a scorcher!!!

It's summertime and that means more outdoor activities in the heat. This summer has been unseasonably hot which can be very dangerous especially for children, the elderly and pets (okay, so just about the entire general population!!). While you don't need to curtail your activities, it is a good idea to take some precautions if you will be out in the sun for a prolonged amount of time. Here are some helpful ideas on how to stay cool and protect yourself (and others!) from the summer sun and heat:

• Try to take advantage of the early morning or late evening when planning outdoor activities or work outs.

• Wear loose-fitting clothes that are in a light color to keep your body cool.
• Use fans to circulate air to make you feel cooler even in an air-conditioned home.
• Keep plastic bottles of water in the freezer and grab one when going outside. As the ice melts, you will have a supply of cold water to enjoy!
• Drink plenty of water or sports drinks when engaging in outdoor activities to replenish the electrolytes in your body that are lost when perspiring.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol since they promote dehydration.
• Use products with mint or menthol. Body washes, lotions and body sprays refresh the skin and create a cooling sensation.
• Wear a hat to keep the sun off of your face.
• Drink chrysanthemum tea. The tea is said to have a cooling effect on the body.
• Eat spicy foods. Yep, you read that right! Foods that create warmth in the body enhance circulation and causes sweating that will cool you down.
  
• Dogs are less efficient at cooling themselves than people are. If your dog lives outdoors, consider bringing him indoors during the hotter times of day and be sure to provide a shaded area in your yard for him (like a dog house beneath a tree).
• Always use sunscreen. And don't forget to put sunscreen on your pets too! Short-haired dogs are susceptible to sunburn especially on the bridge of their noses, tips of their ears and belly area. May sound silly but it works and can save Fido from a lot of discomfort later on!
• Your dogs paws can get burnt on a hot sidewalk or asphalt driveway. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for their paws. If the dog MUST go out, keep the walk very short and keep him in the grass if at all possible.

Hope those tips help to keep you and your entire family safe during the dog days of summer. Now, go grab a cold glass of lemonade and head for the nearest pool! Until next time, keep it clean!!