Five Tips for A Healthy Summer
The summer equinox is still days away, but it may already feel like summer where you are.
And if you're like me, this means that you're clamoring to spend most of your time outdoors!
What's on your bucket list for the summer?
Are you making plans to go running, hiking, swimming, camping - or all of the above?! It's definitely the season to soak up the vitamin D!
But it's also important to take precautions against typical hazards that the summer can bring like dehydration, sunburn, and skin and eye damage.
Here are five tips that you can start today and get in the habit of doing now so that you can have a happy, healthy summer!
1 | To feel your best during the summer months, make sure you are drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.
I cannot tell you how many times I have been out and about on a summer day and totally forgot to drink any fluids. It is only when I started to feel nauseous with a headache did I connect the dots and realize I was dehydrated!
Bonus Tips:
Carry a reuseable water bottle in your handbag at all times!
If you need a reminder, download an app to remind you to drink water (yes, there's many apps for that!). I like the Aqualert app because I can set hourly reminders.
2 | Use sunscreen and/or sunblock before going out in the sun to avoid sunburn which can cause skin cancer, premature aging, and wrinkles.
Confession: Up until recently, I have never consistently used sunscreen. Growing up in Hawai'i, I thought I didn't need to use it because I never got sunburned. Once I learned that was a faux paux, I reluctantly started using sunburn -- every once in a while. I found the brands to feel greasy, and they made my skin breakout.
That is until now.
Since partnering with Beautycounter, I been using their sunscreen which I love. It doesn't make my skin breakout, and I know it's a safer product for me.
Bonus Tip: Check out the Environmental Working Group for recommended sunscreens (Beautycounter made the cut!)
3 | Eat plenty of berries and antioxidant-rich foods to help prevent damage to your skin. This will also help to reduce the aging effect that can happen from being in the sun for long periods of time.
Besides smoothies and smoothie bowls, my other favorite way to eat berries simply chilled, with sprinkles of hemp seeds (for a nutty flavor) or dulse flakes (for a salty taste).
You can also blend frozen berries alone in a high powered blender (or a juicer with a blending feature) and make "ice cream" topping it with nuts or cacao nibs. All natural sweetness, with none of the junky stuff.
4 | Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses or wearing visors/hats so your vision does not get damaged from long exposure outside.
Like sunscreen, I haven't been one to wear sunglasses on a consistent basis. Despite the advice of my friend who is an eye doctor, it's something I ignored for a long time simply because I was lazy, and have lost one too many pairs of sunglasses over the years.
But I recently invested in a basic pay of Raybans. It makes me feel good to know that it's just one other way that I can protect my health.
5 | And finally, make sure to get plenty of sleep so your body has time to refresh.
Is there anything better than waking up after a full night's sleep and feeling like a million bucks?!?
As someone who has struggled with sleep for years, that is honestly how a good night's sleep makes me feel!
I don't know about you, but when I don't get enough sleep, I am essentially useless the next day. I feel like I'm in a daze, my mind is not sharp which puts me in a bad mood.
So I consciously make sure to start winding down my day at the same time every evening. I have a bedtime ritual that I follow every evening:
First, I have a cup of herbal tea (ginger, roasted dandelion, peppermint, lemon or chamomile).
Then turn off the TV and shut down the laptop approximately an hour before bed.
Next, I spend 10 minutes picking up around the house and putting clutter away. I actually set a timer for this on my phone (a tip I picked up from a style blogger).
Then I wash-up, let my dog out to go potty one last time, then climb into bed, spraying my bedding with lavender essential oil, and rubbing a few drops on the soles of my feet.
While I no longer keep my phone in my bedroom overnight, I do have my iPad with me as I read the Kindle app as I fall asleep. Don't worry, I use the inverted color settings so the blue light isn't much of an issue.
Bonus Tip: If sleep is an issue for you, try creating your own bedtime routine or ritual to let your mind wind down from the day.
Summertime is the season for sunshine and fun - just be sure to make it a safe one too!
Be safer this summer with Beautycounter!
Naomi Nakamura is a Functional Nutrition Health Coach. She helps passionate, ambitious high-achievers who are being dragged down by fatigue, burnout, sugar cravings, poor sleep, unexplained weight issues, and hormonal challenges optimize health, find balance, and upgrade their energy so they can do big things in this world.
Through her weekly show, The Live FAB Live Podcast, programs, coaching, and services, she teaches women how to optimize their diet, support their gut health, reduce their toxic load, and improve their productivity, bringing work + wellness together.
Naomi resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and can often be found exploring the area with her puppy girl, Coco Pop!
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