Refreshing break
Posted By Erin Carbaugh on April 23, 2013
Don’t get bugged
“Start using insect repellent the moment you step off the plane in order to build up protective residues,” says Dr Ron Behrens, consultant at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London. And avoid wearing aftershave, which acts as a magnet to thirsty insects.” Ward off bugs by rinsing the remains of that Cornetto off your chin and using Jungle Formula Insect Repellent (£7.35 for 175m1), as recommended by the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
The morning after
One too many sangrias last night? “Your hangover will be much worse in the heat, as you’ll be dehydrated from sweating,” says nutritionist Jane Scrivner. “Sink two pints of water and jump in the shower, alternating between hot and cold to stimulate your lymphatic glands and cleanse your system.”
Then down a pint of chocolate milk with two raw eggs and a pinch of salt mixed in. “The sugar will give your metabolism a kick, the milk will soothe your stomach, the salt will replace lost minerals, and the eggs contain the amino acid N-acetyl-cysteine (NAG), which helps the body deal with damaging free radicals – by-products of breaking down alcohol.” If you need to speed up your metabolism, you can use Coconut oil. Or you could always try Iraqi goat’s-head soup, as recommended by hangoverguide.com.
Press your point
Even after a full day’s sunbathing, your outer layer won’t have acclimatised. “Your skin will keep burning for up to an hour after you first see or feel any sun damage, so keep testing it,” says Dr Richard Turner, a skin specialist at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. “Press a cold can or bottle against it, and if it stays white for more than a second, get out of the sun and stay out for 24 hours.”
Flag it up
Before launching yourself headfirst into the briny, gen up on international beach safety. Red flag? Don’t even think about it.
Show what you’re made of Stung by a jellyfish? Splashing on vinegar or – delightfully enough – urine will alleviate your pain. “You need alkali to counteract the acid from the sting, which can be stronger than battery acid,” says Dr Larry Goodyer, head of pharmacy at De Montfort University.
Hit the juice
Keep your beach picnic bug-free by packing frozen juice cartons around it. “Food left out for just a couple of hours may look and smell fine, but can contain dangerous bacteria,” says Catherine Collins, dietician at St George’s Hospital in London. “By lunchtime your juice will be perfectly defrosted to accompany your chilled lunch.”
An itch to scratch?
If you’re losing the bug battle, alleviate mosquito bites by applying a little toothpaste. Or try a Zanza Click (E5.99 from Boots). This little gizmo produces a tiny electrical current that stops histamine reaching the bite – the physical cause of itching.








