BEAT THE HEAT: For you and your pets

It can be a challenge to take in enough fluids on hot days. Don't forget that by the time you feel thirsty, you are probably already dehydrated. Water is always the optimal choice. But for those of you who feel waterlogged when you drink too many fluids, remember that melons are 90% water and taste great this time of year. Just don't forget that watermelons are a natural diuretic that can cause you to eliminate the fluids you need to beat the heat.

ICED TEA TREATS

There is nothing more refreshing on a hot day than iced tea. For a true taste treat, make your own:

Iced Mint Tea

5 C boiling water
4 tea bags (Orange Pekoe or use a black tea like Darjeeling to be adventurous)
10 sprigs fresh mint (rinsed thoroughly)
1/3 C honey (or more, to taste)
2/3 C fresh lemon juice
1/3 C fresh orange juice

Iced tea is a great thirst quencher

Pour boiling water over tea bags and mint in your covered container and let steep for 30 minutes. Mix honey with the fruit juices and then add to the tea.

COOL TIP: You can freeze the fruit juices as ice cubes and add them to the tea as it is served to avoid ice cubes that water down the flavor.

VARIATION: Reduce the water to 3 C and use 3 C apple juice (unsweetened) instead of the citrus. You can float some lemon slice on top.

AYURVEDIC TIP: Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha, D.Sc., suggests adding brahmi (gotu kola) powder to the tea as it cools, to enhance mental clarity on steamy days.

A WARNING ABOUT SUN TEA: Solar power is great for many uses. But tea is susceptible to bacteria that cannot be killed unless the tea is heated beyond what the sun alone can do. The Centers for Disease Control and the National Tea Association therefore recommend brewing tea at 195 degree for three to five minutes. Also never keep any tea at room temperature beyond eight hours. In place of sun tea, a safer bet is to "brew" the tea overnight in the refrigerator instead.

IT'S HOT FOR PETS, TOO! Mad dogs and Englishmen would both be smart to stay out of the midday sun. With global warming on the rise, it makes even better sense to keep your pet indoors or shaded between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and, of course, never leave a pet in the car on hot days.

• WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE - In summer, I keep extra bowls of water inside and outside the house. (A stray raccoon or possum has been known to benefit as well.) Some dogs will also enjoy a wading pool, while others will not go near it. Check on your pet's preferences before you invest.
• DAB ON SOME SUNSCREEN - Not just the nose, but also the skin around the lips and the tips of the ears on both cats and dogs.
• GOOD GROOMING - Matted or tangled fur can trap heat. This is a good time to get your pet groomed but not shaved. Shaving a pet not only adds to the sunburn danger but if often counteracts the natural insulation that the animal's fur provides.
• BE ALERT TO SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS - Especially on humid days, pets can wilt. Elderly, very young, and infirm animals are also at risk. Another concern is ardent exercise enthusiasts who take their animals with them on a workout. A physician friend lost his dog because even he did not see the signs. According t HealthPet.com, the following are warning signs of heat stress in cats and dogs:
  • Panting - remember that dogs sweat through their tongues
  • Staring
  • Anxious expression
  • Refusal to obey commands
  • Warm, dry skin
  • High fever
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Vomiting
  • Collapse

QUICK COOLDOWN TIPS Whenever you plan to exercise, play, or garden outdoors, remember to:

• Bring more water than you think you will need. (And remember that other beverages, even that great mint iced tea, will not substitute for good, cool water.)
• Freeze an extra water bottle to bring along. That way, it will still be cool when you most need it.
• Dip a shirt or towel in cool water and wear it. This is one of the better ways to cool down quickly. It can also help to run an ice cube over major arteries, in the neck and wrists.
• Remember Maggie Smith in the movie Gosford Park? Put some cooling cucumber slices on your eyelids and lie somewhere away from the sun.

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