Greetings, The summer sun is brightening our days, but—phew!—a little break in the heat and humidity

sure wouldn’t hurt. In the meantime, try to find some fresh and breezy ways to chill out, enjoy the season, and stay refreshed. So break out the blender and swirl up an icy, slimming smoothie, and make sure you have a few homemade healers on hand to keep summertime woes at bay. No matter how you like to spend your sizzling summer, we’ve got you covered.

In the News...POP Goes the New Super Snack!Popcorn fans rejoice! A team of researchers recently discovered that your favorite crunchy treat may just be the perfect snack food. It turns out that popcorn contains a whole lot more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. The beneficial antioxidants that are diluted by the high water content in fresh produce are more concentrated in popcorn, which contains only 4 percent water. Not only that, but popcorn is also 100 percent unprocessed whole grain. One caution: Drowning your popcorn in butter or sweet flavorings will quickly cancel out the nutritious benefits. So your best bet is to stick to plain, air-popped popcorn.http://tiny.cc/znxvbw

New Shot May Lower CholesterolIn studies, monthly injections of a newly developed drug have lowered participants’ cholesterol by up to 66 percent. The results of this research are giving new hope to patients who either can’t tolerate currently prescribed statin therapy, or who struggle to control high cholesterol through changes in their diet. Stay tuned—further studies are underway.http://tiny.cc/l7xvbw

This Season’s Hot Topic… Say “Yes” to These 5 “No-No” FoodsYou’ve lived your whole life thinking that you should avoid certain bad-for-you foods at all costs if you want to lose weight or stay healthy. But here’s the real skinny: These “bad” foods are actually good for you!

• Red wine. Drinking one small glass every day gives you a good- sized dose of heart-healthy resveratrol and improves your exercise endurance.

• Chocolate. Eaten in moderation, dark chocolate packs enough antioxidants to help your body release fat. Bonus: It’s a tasty way to boost your mood, too!

• Cheese. Eating at least three servings of low-fat dairy every day will help you lose weight and decrease body fat.

• Coconut oil. This tropical oil is easy to digest and helps improve the ratio of good to bad cholesterol.

• Nuts. Munching your favorite nut is a satisfying snack that helps boost metabolism and burn calories.

The Baker’s Best of HealthJuly ● August ● September 2012

By the month…

JulyInternational Group B Strep Awareness Monthwww.groupbstrepinternational.org

UV Safety Monthwww.preventblindness.org

July 28World Hepatitis Daywww.nvhr.org

AugustChildren’s Eye Health and Safety Monthwww.preventblindness.org

National Immunization Awareness Monthhttp://tiny.cc/kwvvbw

August 1-7

World Breastfeeding Weekhttp://www.tiny.cc/68rzdw

SeptemberHealthy Aging Monthhttp://tiny.cc/wxvvbw

National Cholesterol Education Monthhttp://tiny.cc/qrvvbw

National Yoga Awareness Monthwww.yogamonth.org

September 21World Alzheimer’s Daywww.alz.co.uk/adi/wad/

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Ahhhh…summer! The sun is shining, the grass is growing, and all is right with the world. Except that the bugs are biting. And that sunburn—yowza! OK, so along with the good stuff, summer comes with its own tales of woe. So here are a few ways to lick ‘em so you can get back to enjoying the season.

Sunburn. Dab whole milk on the burn for 15 minutes every 2 to 4 hours.

Bug bites. Dissolve two antacid tablets in a glass of water. Then moisten a soft cloth with the solution, and hold it on the bite.

Stinky sneakers. Sprinkle a little baking soda in your shoes after you wear ‘em. (Just remember to shake it out before you slip the shoes on.)

Smelly armpits. Eat pumpkin seeds. They’re loaded with zinc, a deficiency of which can lead to body odor.

Avoid a Melting Moment Summer weather can feel like a blast from an overheated furnace. And your not-so-heat-proof makeup can make you wonder if you’re melting. So here’s how to stay fresh all day, no matter how hot it gets:

• Use a light foundation with an SPF of at least 15, so you won’t need heavy sunscreens, too.

• Dust face powder on your eyelids before applying eye shadow to avoid colorful clumping in your creases as the day heats up.

• Instead of using waxy eyeliner pencil, wet a Q-tip, dip it in dark, powdered shadow, and line your eyes with that.

• Get a nice, natural glow with powdered bronzer or self-tanning lotion for a safe, sun-kissed look.

• Slick on lip balm with an SPF of at least 15 before applying lipstick.

Make it a rule of thumb any time of year to remove your makeup completely before going to bed. Then nourish your skin with our Anti-Aging and Wrinkle Cream. Experience the amazing results for yourself—check it out on our website: www.bakersbesthealth.com

Swirl Up a Slimming SmoothieIf you’re feeling like you could stand to lose a few pounds, there’s no better time than the present to start trimming down and shaping up. After all, swimsuit season is upon us!

New research suggests that drinking green tea with every meal may increase your metabolism. So try this terrific green tea smoothie that’ll energize and fill you up. You’ll get a fat-burning boost and send your hunger pangs packing.

Green Tea Smoothie

1 cup of water1 green tea bag1 teaspoon of honey2 cups of frozen blueberries1 banana1½ cups of fat-free milk

Heat the water until it’s almost boiling. Add the tea bag and steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Sweeten the tea with honey, and pour it into a blender along with the blueberries, banana, and milk. Process until smooth. (Yield: 2 servings)

Recipes for Summer Relief

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