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You may already have experienced some or may know those who do, but what makes summer sickness so prevalent, and how can we avoid or mitigate it? It’s always best to rule out the most obvious cause – that of allergies – as anyone with an allergy will probably be aware of why their body is acting up. A changing season may mean more pollen or dust in the air, and that’s a common enough cause, but there are still many reasons those without allergies suffer flu-like symptoms in late spring and early summer. First of all, it’s important to note that there is a misconception that flu is only for winter. This is because the flu is the common name for influenza, which is a virus that typically affects people in the colder months. However, there are a lot of other viruses in the world that thrive in warmer climates and which have similar sickness It’s easy to ruin your early weeks of summer by coming down sick. But why do so many people get sick over the summer, and what can be done to avoid it? 42 Á Summer42 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HEALTH & FITNESS symptoms. Therefore, most people won’t technically have “true influenza” in the summer, but an infection that mimics it. Colloquially, we still call this “the flu” because it’s easier than having to memorise a hundred other names, but it technically isn’t the flu. The human body typically reacts the same to most infections – fever to burn it away, coughing to clear the lungs, etc – so our body’s reactions to different illnesses are often the same. A big reason why more and more people come down sick over the summer is because we like to get out more when the weather is hot. This naturally causes people to come into contact with more potential carriers, spreading illnesses far faster than they normally would. In Japan, it’s normal to wear a face mask, and was long before COVID ever became an issue, and this helps reduce infection rates. Given the reaction to facemasks here, some frustration and a lot of overreaction and conspiracy theories, that’s unlikely to ever become the norm, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware of other people. Consider avoiding family who are sick unless it’s important, and if you come down with symptoms of a flu-like nature then try to avoid public spaces. Ideally, you would not go out at all and spread it but that’s not always reasonable, so instead focus on coughing into your hand or elbow and wash your hands often. On the matter of washing hands, it seems like people have started to lose the good habit of lockdown. Research suggests as many as 60% of people do not regularly wash their hands, with men scoring highest (to the surprise of no one) when it comes to not washing their hands or their faces in the morning or before meals. It takes very little time to wash one’s hands under a tap before eating, and as a common method of infection is transferring a virus from your hands to food to the mouth, it should become a priority once more. Luckily, most people get over the flu-like illnesses fairly quickly. Few of them are dangerous except for those of an advanced age or with autoimmune disorders – and such people typically know more about their conditions and how to handle it. While many of these illnesses are too common to require a doctor’s visit, the general advice is to treat the symptoms with anti-inflammatories or painkillers. It’s not just mingling with others that causes illness in summer, however. As the heat increases, so too does the body’s requirement for hydration. Dehydration is a common © stock.adobe.com/ Елена Якимова © stock.adobe.com/JaniceLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 43 HEALTH & FITNESS cause of sickness and of headaches especially, and it’s very easy to deprive yourself without realising it. Dehydration on the level of coming down sick is very easy to accomplish, requiring only a few ounces less than required in a day. It’s easy to miss out on enough water when out on a busy day, especially if vendors and shops are crowded with people. It’s also easy to forget when eating dehydrating foods, or if your preferred drink is not especially hydrating in the first place. Fried foods and ultra processed foods are some of the most dehydrating meals, and it may surprise to hear that caffeinated and alcoholic drinks are also dehydrating as well. Coffee itself is not technically dehydrating but it is a diuretic, which means more water is lost in urine. That won’t be enough to dehydrate on its own but, combined with other foods, it may exacerbate the issue. There’s a reason health organisations want people to drink more water. Spicy foods can also dehydrate via sweating, while dry foods like bread and crackers are obvious. The key takeaway is not that these foods are bad for you, but that they should be had with a little more water through the day. It’s easy to deprive the body of water and that quickly leads to sickness as the days get hotter. What is blue light? Sunlight contains red, orange, yellow, green and blue light rays. Depending on where they fall on the spectrum, light rays have long wavelengths (with less energy) or short wavelengths (with more energy). Blue light is a high-energy visible light and has shorter wavelengths. It’s naturally present in sunlight but is also something we can see from screens such as TVs, computers, smartphones and tablets. Can blue light damage my eyes? There is currently no scientific evidence that blue light causes damage to the eyes. However, there is evidence to suggest that carrying out near tasks can increase eyestrain for those who do this for long periods of time. Can blue light affect my sleep pattern? Using screens close to bedtime may contribute to poorer sleep, which may mean your concentration levels are lower during the day. This may be because blue light is linked to the suppression of the hormone melatonin which makes us feel sleepy. Can blue light filtered lenses help? Some people report that lens coatings that filter blue light make their eyes feel more comfortable or are helpful before bed, but there is no clear scientific evidence to support this or that these kinds of coatings prevent eye disease. Why have I heard that blue light is harmful to eye health? Several studies have been carried out into the effects of blue light, and research in this area is still ongoing. Some past studies have revealed that exposure to blue light can lead to changes in animals’ eyes. However, because the time and intensity of exposure to blue light in these studies was far more than that of natural daylight and that of screens, this does not show that blue light is harmful to eyes. Charlie Holland and Neil James For further information or to book an appointment visit hollandjames.co.uk/book, call 01652 408200 or pop into the store in Brigg to speak with Charlie or Neil directly.44 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING Summer Chocolate Covered Cherries Makes about 40 cherries Preparation time: 45 minutes Cooking time: 2minutes Allergens: Dairy You’ll need: * 375g Icing Sugar * 60g Butter, softened * 1 tbsp Milk * 1/2 tsp Almond Extract * 2 jars of Opies Cocktail Cherries, drained * 340g quality Dark Chocolate Chips * 2 tbsp Vegetable Fat (e,g, Trex) What to do: 1. Line a large baking tray with greaseproof paper. 2. In a bowl combine the sugar, butter, milk and almond extract. Knead until smooth and pliable then shape into balls around the size of a two pence piece before flattening into a disk. If the mixture gets too sticky, place in the fridge for 10 minutes to harden a little. 3. Place a well-drained cherry in the centre of the disk and wrap to fully enclose the cherry. Place on the baking tray, cover and chill in the fridge overnight. 4. In a microwave, melt the chocolate and vegetable fat in 15 second intervals, stirring in between until melted. 5. Submerge the cherries in the chocolate until fully coated then place back on the lined tray until set. 6. Store in an airtight container. Warmer days means a lot of getting outside, so here are some treats that can be made ahead of time and stored til later.FOOD & DINING LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 45 Pickled Walnut Cornish Pasties Serves 6 Preparation Time: 2+ hours (includes 2 hours chilling time) Cooking Time: 2+ hours Allergens: gluten, dairy, egg, walnuts You’ll need: * 500g strong white bread flour * 1 tsp salt * 150g unsalted butter, diced * 100g lard, diced * 1 egg, beaten to seal and glaze For the filling: * 400g rump steak, fat removed and cut into 1cm cubes * 300g waxy potatoes, diced into 1cm cubes * 200g swede, peeled and chopped into 1cm cubes * 2 onions, finely chopped * 3 Opies Pickled Walnuts, thickly sliced * Salt and pepper, to taste What to do: 1. Rub the flour, salt, butter and lard together in a mixing bowl using your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add 100ml water and bring together to form a dough, then knead for 3-4 minutes until it be- gins to stretch. 2. Cover and chill for 2-3 hours. Preheat oven to 200°C / fan 180°C /gas 6 and line a large baking tray. 3. Season the steak, potatoes, swede and onions generously in a bowl then add the pickled walnuts and combine briefly, taking care not to break them up. 4. Remove dough from the fridge and divide into 6 balls, before rolling each into a circle about 23cm across on a lightly floured surface - use a side plate as a guide and trim the pastry around it. 5. Spoon some filling onto one half of each circle, leaving a 1cm border, then brush the edges with egg. Fold the pastry half over the top of the filling to encase it and form a half-moon, then pinch together and crimp the edges. Transfer to a tray and chill for another hour before baking. 6. Remove from the fridge then brush pasties with the remaining egg to glaze. Bake for 10 minutes, then lower the oven to 160°C / fan 140°C / gas 3 and bake for a further 45 minutes until golden. 7. Serve warm or cold. Cornish Pasties are a regional classic. This recipe upgrades the filling very simply - by including Pickled Walnuts.To promote your services call Angie Cooper on 01472 310302 or email: a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk Click’em Inn Swinhope, Nr Binbrook, Market Rasen, LN8 6BS Tel: 01472 398253 Web: www.clickem-inn.co.uk The Click’em Inn is a family-owned freehouse, established for over 30 years in its current incarnation. Steeped in history, the inn is open 6 days a week, Tuesday- Sunday, offering a wide choice of drinks, including six real ales available at any time, with a regularly changing selection of personally recommended guest ales. The Kitchen is open Tuesday-Sunday for evening dining, plus lunchtimes Friday-Sunday. The menu varies from day-to-day with the chef’s specials, alongside regular meals. 46 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY What to do: 1. In a small saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over a low heat. 2. Once the butter has melted, to the saucepan add the brown sugar, Opies Stem Ginger syrup, chopped Stem Ginger, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Stir well to combine. 3. Cook the mixture for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the ingredients are blended. 4. Pour the dark rum into the saucepan and continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the mixture to heat through. 5. Meanwhile heat the water in a kettle until it is hot but not boiling. 6. Once the rum mixture is heated, carefully pour the hot water into the saucepan, stirring to combine all the ingredients. 7. Remove the saucepan from the heat and pour into heatproof glasses or mugs. 8. Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick, if desired. Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Allergens: Dairy, Gluten (check ingredients of tortillas) You’ll need: * 50g Unsalted Butter * 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar * 1 tablespoon Opies Stem Ginger syrup * 2 pieces Opies Stem Ginger, finely chopped * 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon * 1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg * 50ml Dark Rum * 200ml Hot Water * Cinnamon stick, for garnish (optional) FOOD & DINING Hot Buttered RumFOOD & DINING LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 Ginger Toffee Makes 6 Preparation time: 30 minutes plus chilling time Cooking time: 10 minutes You’ll need: * 6 medium-sized Apples * 200g Granulated Sugar * 60ml Water * 1 tablespoon Opies Stem Ginger syrup * 2 pieces Opies Stem Ginger, finely chopped * 1 teaspoon Ground Ginger * 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract * 6 wooden skewers or lollipop sticks Recipes and images courtesy of Opies www.bennettopie.com / @opiesfoods Apples What to do: 1. Wash and dry the apples thoroughly. Remove any stems and insert a wooden skewer or lollipop stick into the stem end of each apple. 2. Place the granulated sugar and water in a medium-sized saucepan over a medium heat. 3. Stir the mixture until the sugar has dissolved completely. 4. Add the Opies Stem Ginger syrup, chopped Opies Stem Ginger, ground ginger, and vanilla extract to the saucepan. Stir to combine. 5. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer until it reaches the hard crack stage, about 10-15 minutes. You can test the consistency by dropping a small amount of the toffee mixture into a bowl of cold water - it should harden immediately and become brittle. 6. Once the toffee reaches the desired consistency, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool slightly. 7. Dip each apple into the warm toffee mixture, tilting the saucepan if necessary to coat the apple evenly. Be careful as the toffee will be very hot. 8. Place the coated apples onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to set. 9. Allow to cool completely before serving. 48 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FAMILY BUSINESS Amidst corporate dominance, family businesses thrive on human connection, ethical values, and a dedication to their communities in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. I n a world increasingly dominated by faceless corporations and algorithmic efficiency, a comforting warmth persists. It emanates from the corner bakery, the independent bookshop, the generations-old engineering firm – the family business. These enterprises, woven from shared history and familial bonds, offer something profoundly different, something that resonates on a deeper, more human level. They are the keepers of © stock.adobe.com/ The human touch of family business The human touch of family business LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 FAMILY BUSINESS Givingyourbusinessahelping hand Tofindouthowwecanhelpbuildyourbusinessvisit www.dextersharpe.co.uk Officesin Boston,Bourne,Horncastle, Lincoln,Louth&Skegness CHARTEREDCERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS Accounts-TaxReturns TaxPlanning-Book-Keeping Audits-BusinessAdvice 17 Market Place, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9PD Tel: 01507 604029 www.striacroft.co.uk Gold, Silver & Diamond Jewellery Jewellery & Watch Repairs Pre Owned Rolex Watches T AP£2.95 5202PRIL Lincs& Garden H MtiMti County Ambula NottsAi L g Hannah Interview M hDl ith WWWLINCWWW.LINC CONSHREOCONSHREO ODAYNETODAYNET Lincolnshire Today’s gift subscription for only £27.55 with free delivery Call 01472 310301 or visit www.lincolnshiretoday.net/341 1st 3 £1 Looking for a great gift idea? tradition, the guardians of personal service, and the silent architects of community. Unlike their corporate counterparts, family businesses are rarely driven solely by quarterly profit margins. The pursuit of legacy, the desire to uphold a reputation built over decades, and the commitment to future generations 50 ÁNext >