Be Silly. Be honest. Be kind.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

BEATING THE HEAT
 

Gardening in the heat can be dangerous, especially when the humidity is high. The body is cooled during exercise mainly through the evaporation of sweat. In hot, humid weather it is difficult for the body to sweat because the air is already saturated with water and evaporation is compromised. We recommend the following tips for safe summer gardening:

1. Work in your garden during the cooler part of the day, such as the morning or the evening, rather than during the midday sun. NOTE: Avoid early morning when the plants may be damp with dew. Working with damp plants spreads disease.

2. Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after working outdoors. The human thirst mechanism is not as highly developed as it is in animals. We may actually be dehydrated before we experience thirst. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends drinking 13-17 ounces of cold water, 10-15 minutes prior to exercise.

3. Wear as little clothing as possible. Be sure to wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing with large breathing holes. Avoid nylon shirts as they retain heat. Avoid rubberized or plastic suits, sweatshirts, or sweatpants. This type of clothing will cause your internal body temperature to reach dangerously high levels and could result in heatstroke.

4. Beware of the following warning symptoms of heatstroke or heat exhaustion:

-- nausea or cramps
-- dizziness
-- dry skin - no sweating
-- redness
-- goose bumps on chest and arms
-- incoherent speech and thoughts
-- loss of gait or coordination

5. DO NOT TAKE SALT TABLETS! We get enough salt in our diets to replace the salt that we lose through sweating

6. Keep the body's balance of magnesium and potassium high. Eat natural sources of these minerals found in cantaloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, carrots, and cucumbers.

7. Acclimatize to the heat by starting to work out in the heat for shorter periods of time and gradually increasing the time you spend outdoors.

Reference: The National Institute of Health

Contributed by GardenGuides http://www.gardenguides.com

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