5 healthiest summer habits

It's summertime, and the living is easy. But the season can also bring with it certain serious risks, including sun damage, food poisoning, and insect-borne diseases. Follow these five tips to have your best, healthiest summer yet. Here are some pointers from qualityhealth.com for a healthy and fun summer adventures. The photos were taken in Donsol, Sorsogon Philippines except the last one.

1. Practice good pedicure hygiene. We all want our feet to look good now that they're on display, but take basic precautions to avoid infection. Buy a pedicure kit and bring it with you to each appointment (some salons sell them and keep them for you) so you're not sharing instruments with every other customer. Try not to get pedicures if you have cracked skin or any cuts on your feet. 2. Self-tanners are the new sunbathing. A golden hue looks lovely on everyone, but exposing your skin to the sun's harsh rays is inviting damage. And don't even think about lying in a tanning bed. It's just as bad for you, if not worse than, sunbathing outdoors. The perfect solution for those pasty white legs and arms? Self-tanner. There are tons of brands out there, from gels to creams to foams. Experiment a bit and see what works to turn you from pale to glowing. 3. Invest in two spatulas. When grilling, don't use the same spatula for putting raw beef patties on the grill and turning them that you use for removing them when they're cooked. The meat may be cooked, but the juices from the raw meat aren't--and they're still contaminating the spatula. The last thing you want at your next cookout is a case of food poisoning! 4. Don't sweat extra sweat. It's only natural that you may break a sweat several times a day in this hot weather. While there's no need to shower incessantly, you probably want to cleanse your face a little more often. Go for gentle cleansers that won't dry you out, and bring a small bottle with you to the beach or poolside barbecue to refresh yourself after a round of volleyball or frisbee. Or carry around small cleansing wipes--they're easily stashed in your purse. 5. Do tick checks. Ticks are most prevalent in northeastern states with high populations of deer, but Lyme Disease can occur anywhere. Make it a point to check yourself (and your kids) after any outdoor romps, especially in or near woods. The Centers for Disease Control suggests that if you find an attached tick you remove it immediately with sharp tweezers and watch for signs of illness such as a red "bullseye" rash or fever.