Staying cool and healthy during the summer

Summertime is upon us, and while we excitedly plan fun activities and possible travel trips, we tend to forget that the sun’s shine and brightness can be quite harmful.

Follow these tips to stay healthy and cool this summer:

Cool Workouts

Hot temperatures can stress the body, so choose water workouts and make a splash as you get fit and strong or get moving indoors with a fun fitness video or DVD.

Hydrate Healthy

Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise, and limit your and your children’s intake of sugary beverages.

Summer Food

At summer gatherings, watch your portion sizes and incorporate healthy foods Add color, variety, and flavor to your meals with fruits and vegetables. Eating low-calorie starters helps reduce your calories.

Sleep

The longer summer days allow us to stay up late or take a mid-afternoon nap, which can affect sleep. Sleeping adequate hours and at the same time, each night helps you boost your immunity, maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk for many chronic diseases. Spending time outdoors during the day will help you sleep well at night.

Sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen is one of the best — and easiest — ways to protect your skin’s appearance and health at any age. Used regularly, sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging. For day-to-day use, pick a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. If you spend time outdoors, choose a product with SPF 60 or greater. In reality, most people do not use as much sunscreen as they should, and this higher SPF helps compensate. How much sunscreen do I need? To protect your face, neck, arms, and legs, you’ll need about 1 ounce of sunscreen. Squeezed into your hand, 1 ounce of sunscreen is enough to completely cover your palm.

Make it a goal to adopt healthy habits during the summer season and surround yourself with people that support and share your health goals.