For a cool summer, take care of yourself

Everyone should take care of their health and, as Jews, we are expressly urged to do so. As the Rambam said, “Since maintaining a healthy and sound body is among the ways of God – for one cannot understand nor have any knowledge of the Creator, if he is ill – therefore, he must  avoid that which harms the body and accustom himself to that which is healthful and helps the body become stronger” (Laws of Dispositions 4:1).

In summer, we need to take some extra steps to guard our health. Many of the following steps are common sense – which is not so common.

• Watch out for the sun. Use sunscreen, hats and clothes to protect your skin.

• Wear light clothing in the intense heat – choose cottons and other fabrics that “breathe.”

• Eat light, especially during the day, when the sun is strongest, but stay hydrated. Eat lots of fruit and drink plenty of water.

• Exercise outdoors early or late, not under the blazing noon sun.  

• If mosquitoes and other insects are a problem, get pest control or use insect repellent. Don’t linger around the fumes.

• Don’t leave food out in the heat.

• Be patient with the summer traffic. We have many more people on the roads in the summer, especially near the beaches.

• Get together with friends. It adds to our happiness quotient and our joy.

The summer months are a great time to connect as there is so much to do, especially outdoors.

Happy summer!

PATRICIA RASKIN hosts “The Patricia Raskin Show” on Saturdays at 3 p.m. on WPRO, 630 AM/99.7 FM, and on Mondays at 2 p.m. on voiceamerica.com. Raskin is a board member of Providence’s Temple Emanu-El.