If you are hiking in the hinterlands this summer, what first aid should you take along? We talk with Dr. Jim Hubbard, author of The Survival Doctor’s Complete Handbook, about what to do when you can’t get to the doctor.

Home Remedies for Summertime Maladies:

Dr. Hubbard also shares some of his favorite home remedies. What home remedies do you use most often for hot weather problems?

Diet Controversies Heat Up:

Butter made headlines recently when nutrition scientists at Tufts University published a meta-analysis showing that butter doesn’t lead directly to diabetes, heart disease or death. Sweet corn in the summer tastes so much better with butter on it, so this is good news. Why have they gotten such push-back? What’s your take on butter?

The Tufts University research showing no connection between butter consumption and heart attack or stroke was published in PLOS One, June 29, 2016. The Harvard meta-analysis showing that saturated fat and especially trans-fatty acids contribute to premature death was published in JAMA Internal Medicine, July 5, 2016.

Are You Staying Hydrated?

That can be a challenge in hot weather. Water is always good, but coffee or tea also work. The British research demonstrating that tea and coffee are as good as water-and milk or oral rehydration solution is even better-for hydration was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March, 2016.

During the show, one listener emailed his home-made rehydration solution. Here’s the recipe:

“Mix one gallon of water, 1 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt, 4 tablespoons of honey, & 4 tablespoons of good apple cider vinegar (homemade or Braggs).

“We drink all we want in the hayfield, etc. We also drink one glass of water for one glass of the apple vinegar  drink.”

This Week’s Guest:

James Hubbard, MD, MPH, is a specialist in family medicine and author of The Survival Doctor’s Complete Handbook: What to Do When Help Is Not on the Way. His website is www.TheSurvivalDoctor.com.

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