Summer is one of my favorite seasons of the year. I have many fond memories of family vacations in Hungary; spending time on Lake Balaton, camping by the Tisza River, or soaking in one of the Thermal Baths. Late nights were always filled with eating good food, drinking local wine, playing cards and laughing. By the end of the summer it was guaranteed that all the outdoor activities left me with a golden tan. As much as I loved getting a tan, it isn’t always the best for the skin.
A tan is simply the skin reacting to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun and is your skin producing melanin, which is the way it protects itself from the UV rays. Too much exposure to UV rays can have negative effects on the skin and cause wrinkles, discoloration and/or skin cancer. It is imperative to always use a high-grade sunblock, re-apply and limit the exposure to the sun. Remember to avoid the direct summer sun between 10 am to 4 pm. If you can’t, cover up.
There were times when I accidentally did get sunburned, and I would treat my sunburn the old fashioned way like my grandmother used to and apply sour cream to my skin. The coldness of the sour cream has an instant soothing relief and the fat, enzymes, calcium, lactic acid and PH in dairy help soothe irritated skin. The colder the dairy is, the more it restricts the blood vessels and helps reduce the swelling caused by the burn.
Besides enjoying my time outside with friends and family, summer was also the time when watermelons were in season. Watermelons are one of my absolute favorite fruits. They are juicy and sweet and are the perfect dessert or snack. Besides the delicious taste of them, they can also help drop a few pounds of water weight. I was introduced to the watermelon diet from a young age by my mother. Before every vacation, she would have a ritual of eating as much watermelon as possible for 1-3 days She claimed, that it helped her lose the necessary inch or two for her bathing suit body. I myself, would partake in this diet right before my vacations.
Watermelon Diet
- Eat as much watermelon as possible for 1-3 days, no other foods allowed. .
- Drink only water
I wish all a wonderful rest of your summer and look forward to seeing you in my spa.
