By StatePoint

Summer can be hot, sticky and downright uncomfortable. It can also be dangerous if you are not prepared.

Cope with the heat this summer and stay healthy and safe with these helpful tips.

• Maintain your air conditioner. The last thing you need is a broken air conditioner on a hot day. Regular maintenance of your unit can help ensure it will work all summer long. The easiest, and perhaps most important, maintenance task you can perform yourself is to clean or change the filter routinely. For more complicated tasks, you may wish to hire a professional technician. Likewise, you’ll want to be sure your car’s air conditioner is in good working order, particularly before a major road trip or heat wave.

• Stay informed with accurate weather information. Accurate weather information is one of the best ways to make informed decisions and be prepared for daily outdoor activities, family vacations and travel plans. Consider a source recognized for its superior accuracy – the AccuWeather app can be a good go-to resource not only this summer, but year-round, to help keep you safe. It features AccuWeather MinuteCast, an exclusive minute-by-minute precipitation forecast for the next two hours specific to your exact GPS location. Plus, the app’s AccuWeather RealFeel feature lets you know how it actually feels outside so you can properly plan for outdoor summer activities and the day ahead – from what to pack to what to wear. If you’re constantly on the go, don’t worry, because the app delivers severe weather push alert notifications that can help keep you safe and better prepared for anything that comes your way. The award-winning AccuWeather app is available on all of Android mobile devices, as well as on iOS, for free.

• Know what to wear. During the summer, lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing can make all the difference to your comfort. The less fabric you have actually touching your body, the cooler you will be.

• Schedule outdoor activities carefully. During periods of intense heat, stay indoors and, if at all possible, remain in an air-conditioned location. If your home does not have air conditioning, consider going to a shopping mall or public library for a few hours – spending time in air conditioning will help your body stay cooler once you go back out into the elements. Limit your outdoor activities to morning and evening hours when it’s cooler.

• Stay hydrated. Summer fun often means being outdoors, but listen to your body and take breaks to rest, rehydrate and cool off. Bring water or a sports drink with you when you are exercising, at the pool or even just making your way around town. Make sure to avoid alcohol and caffeine, as they can quickly dehydrate you.

With up-to-the-minute knowledge at your fingertips and the right preparation, you will be ready to cope with heat and all weather conditions the summer season brings.

Photo courtesy: (c) pololia – Fotolia.com

By StatePoint

In the last 10 years, scientists have learned that having enough beneficial gut bacteria is a critical component of overall health. Now, research shows that ensuring newborns have sufficient exposure to probiotic bacteria during infancy and early childhood can give them a head start on lifelong wellness.

What makes bacteria so important? Well, with nearly 80 percent of the immune system residing in the gut, a healthy microbial makeup from birth is essential for proper immune system development and optimal digestive, metabolic, and brain function.

When looking to encourage a healthy infant microbiome (AKA the array of bacteria and microorganisms in the body), science tells us that the mother’s gut health is key.

Here’s how it works: during pregnancy, babies are exposed to their mother’s bacteria in the placenta, which harbors a variety of microbes. A baby’s immune system begins to develop just after birth, during which a mother passes on her beneficial bacteria to her child (often termed “seeding the microbiome”) as he or she passes through the vaginal canal and partakes in breast milk and skin-to-skin contact.

Then, through an interactive connection between host cells and the baby’s brand new gut microbiome (inherited directly from the mother), helpful microorganisms selectively colonize the gut and participate in the maintenance and promotion of the child’s immune system.

Expecting and nursing mothers can be proactive by ensuring their gut health is in tip-top condition, since the microbes they pass on to their infant can help establish a solid foundation for lifelong health.

In addition to directly replenishing their good bacteria, moms should do their best to stay well-rested and properly hydrated while paying close attention to their diet. Focusing on getting proper prenatal nutrition in the form of whole and plant-based foods, especially those rich in prebiotic fiber is important. It’s also helpful to be mindful of factors that deplete good bacteria, like antimicrobials, stress, environmental toxins and exposure to unnecessary antibiotics.

Many doctors, midwives and other experts are touting the health benefits of one supplement for expecting and new mothers believed to increase a child’s chances for a healthy start at life: probiotics.

“As a mom, the best gift you can give your baby is a healthy microbiome,” says Jamie Morea, co-founder of Hyperbiotics, a company that specializes in probiotic supplements and has developed the first probiotic formula designed specifically for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Hyperbiotics PRO-Moms includes time-release delivery for enhanced effectiveness, ensuring the living organisms survive stomach acids to colonize within the gut.

Not only can probiotics help with digestive discomfort during pregnancy, but an effective supplement can repopulate a mother’s system and help ensure she is passing on the best and most beneficial bacteria to her children.

To learn more about how to support optimal gut health for moms and babies, visit hyperbiotics.com or join the conversation on social media at #followyourgut.

Because gut and microbial health have an overwhelming impact on lifelong wellness, tending to it while expecting is one of the most important things to consider for mothers-to-be in order to properly pave the path of health for little ones.

PHOTO SOURCE: Kaspars Grinvalds – Fotolia.com

By StatePoint

Those recovering from an addiction know what a major challenge the process can be on the body and mind, as well as on the wellness of friends and family supporting your endeavor.

While a physician should be consulted in working out a recovery plan, there are steps one can personally take to smooth the road ahead.

Thinking Positively

Recovery is an ongoing process, and won’t be resolved overnight. Knowing this can help you stay motivated when the going gets tough. Acknowledging but also forgiving yourself for past mistakes is a good place to start.

Including family and friends who have been affected by your addiction in this healing process is important.

Feeling Your Best

Addiction puts major stress on the mind and body. Good nutrition and proper sleep can restore your body’s systems and processes.

Seek out a diet that contains probiotics, which replenish the digestive system with beneficial bacteria that may have been depleted as a result of toxins and chemical overload, poor diet, bodily stress and overall poor digestive health. B-vitamins are needed to energize metabolism and proper cell and muscle function, and fish oil with omega-3 fatty acids is proven to support cognitive function and brain health, joint health, heart health, eye health and more.

However, keep in mind that it can be difficult to satisfy all of one’s nutritional needs under normal circumstances, and can be even more challenging when your body is recovering from addiction. In addition to a healthy diet, consider seeking out supplements designed specifically for people in recovery, such as Recovery24, which was developed by addiction recovery experts and a board-certified nutritionist. Recovery24 is designed to replenish your body’s nutrients and support sleep, energy, healthy digestion, and overall well-being around the clock. The special formulation contains key nutrients such as probiotics, B-vitamins, fish oil, chamomile, jujube fruit, lemon balm leaf, phosphatidyl serine and antioxidants. The A.M. packs are taken with the first meal of the day and support sustained energy and mental focus. The P.M. Packs are taken 30 minutes before you go to sleep and support a calm, restful sleep.

The road to recovery is challenging and loved ones may also experience their own stresses, sleeplessness and nutritional gaps. Recovery24 supplements are safe and effective even for those not in recovery. More information can be found at TryRecovery24.com.

Get Active

Your road to recovery should involve new hobbies and interests. Start with some fun, physical activity to get your body moving, get healthier and boost endorphins. Whether it’s training for a 5k or joining a pick-up game of basketball in the park, exercise is a crucial component to your overall wellness.

Get Involved

Consider joining other local organizations — from being an involved member of a religious congregation to participating in a local volunteer group to taking art or music classes at a community center. It’s important to stay focused on positive, healthy activities and goals, and make friends and connections with people who are doing likewise.

Experts know that addiction recovery requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the mind, the soul and the body. While recovering from addiction, take the best care of yourself possible to support your goal.