The 4 Best Health Apps For Summer
Your smartphone can help you make smarter choices.
By Brittany Burke
Illustration: Yasmine Gateau
Sophisticated wellness apps are turning our phones into portable health advisers—just the thing for the season when everyone's on the go. This handy bunch will keep you feeling your best through Labor Day and beyond.
Photo: iStock/LouieBaxter
Only about 30 percent of American women regularly use sunscreen on both their face and other exposed skin, according to a recent report from the CDC. Consider downloading this mini sun-care manual, which clearly displays the UV index in your area using vibrant colors: Blues and greens mean that the average person should use modest sun protection (sunglasses and SPF 30+), while reds and purples signal a dangerously high index.
Bonus feature: The app also includes general sun safety advice, so you'll know when it's time to put on a hat or avoid going outside altogether.
Photo: Courtesy of Water Your Body
Fight dehydration, one of the top causes of ER visits during warm weather, with this convenient water consumption tracker. Input specifics about yourself and your location (are you pregnant? at a high altitude? in a dry climate?), and you'll get a personalized H2O goal. Sometimes your body may need more water, especially on hot days or when you're more active.
Bonus feature: You can set reminders if you want to be pinged when it's time to drink up.
Photo: Courtesy of Harvest
Missed the Saturday farmers' market? This app can help you pick the ripest and freshest produce at the grocery store with smart buying advice for more than 100 fruits and veggies. For instance, the more vivid a strawberry's color, the more likely it is to be high in antioxidants.
Bonus feature: With pesticide data from the Environmental Working Group, you'll know which produce has the least residue.
Photo: iStock/JeffreyFrey
New research from the CDC shows that Lyme disease–spreading ticks have been found in nearly half of U.S. counties, possibly because of climate change. The good news: You no longer have to worry needlessly. With the Lyme Disease Tick Map, created by the American Lyme Disease Foundation with the Yale School of Public Health and the CDC, you have a guide right in your pocket that helps you identify ticks you might encounter (black-legged ticks carry the bacteria that cause the disease).
Bonus feature: The in-app physician database makes it easy to get help if you're concerned about a bite.
From the
July 2016 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
