Bright ideas for a happy, healthy August: chill out with frozen fruit, party with the neighbors, and more - Fresh Ideas for You - Cool Off with Fruit from Your Freezer - Sun Your Shirts - Use Your Socks to Repel Bugs - Party with the Neighbors - Have a Little Fat with That Tomato

Natural Health, August, 2003

[check] Cool Off with Fruit from Your Freezer

For a delicious snack that's under 100 calories, wash and pat dry 3/4 cup of fresh grapes or 1 cup of sliced fresh peaches. Freeze them in a plastic container or bag. After a few hours, you'll have a tasty, nutritious alternative to high-calorie, sugar-packed frozen desserts. Frozen fruit provides the same disease-fighting phytonutrients and antioxidants as fresh fruit.

[check] Sun Your Shirts

Line-dry your clothes outside, and let sunlight naturally brighten your whites while summer breezes freshen all your clothes. Studies show that fabric softeners and chlorine bleach emit chemicals that can irritate your skin and cause breathing difficulties. You'll also save money and electricity by line-drying your clothes. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric clothes dryers use more energy than most other home appliances.

[check] Use Your Socks to Repel Bugs

For a safe alternative to potentially harmful insecticides, like DEET, place three drops of peppermint (Mentha x piperita), citronella (Collinsonia canadensis), or eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) essential oil on your socks. Mosquitoes and other bugs hate the smell of these oils. Don't apply essential oils to your favorite socks, as they can stain. Some essential oils may cause skin irritation, so avoid direct contact. Reapply the oil every two to three hours. You can buy these essential oils at natural food stores.

[check] Party with the Neighbors

Invite a few neighbors over for a health-promoting potluck picnic; it's good for you! Socializing can reduce stress and promote better mental and physical health, especially in middle-aged and older adults, according to researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Sharing the responsibility of food preparation helps alleviate pre-party stress. Keep it healthy by asking your guests to bring their favorite good-for-you dish.

[check] Have a Little Fat with That Tomato

Tomatoes provide a hefty dose of lycopene, an antioxidant that promotes good vision and healthy skin and prevents diseases like prostate cancer. Since lycopene is fat-soluble, your body absorbs the nutrient better if you consume it with fat. so drizzle extra-virgin olive oil on your fresh tomato slices or on top of your spaghetti sauce.