While many folks are off vacationing, our favorite magazines are still hard at work sharing helpful hints this summer (nothing else compares for a beach read, right?)! This month, my favorite periodicals dished about a homemade soother for a sunburned face, a healthier BBQ entree and more.

Save your red mug. Low on aloe? Look in your fridge for a scorched skin antidote this summer. Rub a frozen grape sliced in half on your face if your nose is looking more Rudolph than radiant, suggests a dermatologist noted in this month’s SELF. A simple and affordable beauty trick, plus the extra grapes will be a tasty treat!

Build a cancer-fighting burger. Health says that you can turn this BBQ staple into a nutrition powerhouse. A few tips:

• Pile on extra onions and mushrooms. Onions contain allyl sulfides, which may protect against endometrial cancer, while mushrooms boost immune health and supply plenty of antioxidants.
  

• Go lean. If you’re preparing the patties, seek out 90 percent (or more) lean beef or skinless ground turkey or chicken. Add flavor by mixing in dried rosemary before cooking. Bonus: the herb is a proven cancer fighter!
  

• Top with ketchup. The lycopene tomatoes provide is more easily absorbed into the body after it’s heated, as tomatoes are when ketchup is made. Look for a brand that’s low in sugar and consider splurging on organic—a recent study found that organic ketchup offers 50 percent more lycopene than conventional.

Laugh your way preggers. Infertility can be a stressful issue, and almost 12 percent of women have trouble conceiving. So this should be heartening (and happy) news: women who were treated to a show from a “medical clown”after in vitro fertilization treatments were 15 percent more likely to get pregnant than their in vitro peers who weren’t similarly entertained. Study authors quoted in FITNESS claim that the chuckles impact the immune system, which is involved in the embryo’s successful implantation. A Bridesmaids date may not be a bad idea for hopeful moms-to-be!

Put your workout on ice. In the immortal words of the rapper Nelly, “It’s gettin’ hot in here (or should I say ‘herre’ :) ).” *Cue groans* Anyway, the temperatures are certainly nice and toasty now that summer is in full swing, so outdoor exercisers need to be extra careful. A recent Journal of Athletic Training study mentioned in SHAPE suggests freezing a damp towel, then placing it around your neck for a bit before you walk out the door. This lowers internal body temperature and keeps blood working in the muscles rather than focusing on cooling skin. Why bother? Study participants could exercise for 14 percent longer after employing the towel trick! Of course, sip plenty of cool water and seek shade if you’re feeling “uncool.”

Photos courtesy of Flickr user gabriel amadeus

What is your favorite summertime workout and why?