How To Stay Healthy In Summer...

Summer is the time to enjoy being outside and feeling revitalized after the winter. Many people find that they feel healthier and more vibrant during this season. There are many things that will ensure that we enjoy good health and wellbeing all summer long.

The summer is a great season for getting in shape. Whether by playing a sport, doing an aerobic exercise routine, or just returning to that familiar running path -- this is the time for activity.

Dr. Holly Andersen, director of education and outreach at the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, says, "Exercise is the fountain of youth, and summer is the perfect time to re-connect with your body."

However, exercising during the warmest season of the year can lead to dehydration, profuse sweating, exhaustion, and even a cardiac event

How to stay healthy in summer:

Increase the intake of fruits- 

The best thing to do would be to have more fruit. Opt for the ones that have more color such as peaches, berries and melons. These fruits are rich in carotenoids, agents that are known to guard the skin against the damaging effects of the sun, improve immune functions and in some cases may also improve fertility of the person.

Switch on the light- 

In summer; learn to indulge your skin with extra light, even if it has to be artificial. But nothing beats the benefits one can have from being exposed to sunrays. Also, being in the dark can make you feel sluggish while being in the sun can make a person a lot more active.

Get a pedicure at the beach-

 The sand helps to exfoliate your feet in an extremely natural way. As a result of this, our feet get a natural exfoliations and work like an insta-pedicure. You save many and get a fabulous pedicure that leaves your feel soft and supple for the rest of the season.

Have some dark chocolates- 

Chocolates are known to help your body release serotonin, a happy hormone that bears a resemblance to endorphins. If summer does not cheer you up enough, dark chocolates will defiantly will.

Going barefoot – 

Try working out on the sand, barefoot. This is known to increase ones energy level and also helps people stabilize their body in a better way. Experts state that the workout is far more intense if done on a sand and people can expect better results.

Get a summery sweet facial-

 One of the most ‘in’ things during summer are fruits. They are excellent not only for eating but work well for the skin, when externally applied. Toss some mangoes, papaya and pineapple, add some honey and slap a generous amount on the face.

Here are another 5 fun ways to keep well in summer...

Raw Foods

Enjoy as many raw foods as possible. While cooked food tastes nice, especially on a cold winter’s day, vital nutrients are damaged and lost. Further, cooking adds chemicals that aren’t particularly natural to our bodies. Summer is the perfect time to introduce as many raw foods as possible in the diet.

Raw salad sand smoothies will keep you going in the summer. A greater variety of fruits and vegetables means more nourishment for your body and is better for your health. It also means that you won’t waste valuable sunshine time standing over your cooker, and you may find that you look more gorgeous than ever in your summer clothes.

Wild Foods

By now, most of us know that blueberries are great for health. But there are plenty of berries that grow wild all over the world which can give us many of those same nutrients and antioxidants.

There may also be wild plants to use in salads, such as dandelion. Nettles can be used in tea, and they can also be juiced. Find out what foods grow wild in your area, and make the most of these free foods that are highly nutritious

Sun Screen

Sunscreen is a tricky subject. On the one hand we know that overexposure to sun causes aging skin and even cancer, we also know that the best way to get vitamin D, which is essential for our health, is through the sun. Studies are also continuously showing that many mainstream brands of sunscreen contain chemicals that are no good for our wellbeing. Here are a few ways to deal with the sun:

* Make sure your sunscreen is organic.

* Cover up -- a hat will not only protect you from the sun, it can add style and flare to your outfit!

* Studies show that lycopeneis extremely beneficial in protecting us from the negative effects of the sun. Lycopene is a plant nutrient found primarily in tomatoes and tomato based products such as juice and puree, as well as watermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya, and red bell pepper.

* There are also some interesting studies to suggest that broccoli sprouts (which you can sprout yourself or buy at a health food shop), are beneficial for warding off harmful sun rays.

Drink Water

It is crucial to drink plenty of water all year long, and no time is it as refreshing and necessary as in the summer months. We are primarily made of water, and drinking plenty of plain agua will ensure that we feel well and vibrant during the hot months. Just watch a wilting plant in the sun come alive when it gets watered.

Exercise

Summer is the time to get outside. If you have wanted to get in shape and get into some healthy exercising habits, there is no better time than now. Figure out what you enjoy doing, and do it 4-5 times a week.

Bicycling, skateboarding, running, or just walking regularly for 20 minutes can make us feel better and improve our health... not to mention how we look and feel with our winter jackets off.