How To Stay Healthy In The Summer Heat

Summer is the perfect time to be active and get outside! Go to the pool, the beach, or just take a walk around your neighborhood. There are lots of ways you can have a fun summer, but you also want to have a healthy summer. That means protecting your skin from the aggressive sun and keeping your body as hydrated as possible. Check out some of these tips on how to have a happy healthy summer. 

5 tips on how to stay healthy this summer: 

Use Sunscreen 

Use sunscreen at all times when venturing outside. Wearing sunscreen is extremely important and as much as the sun does so many great things for our health it can also be damaging to the skin. This summer make sure to apply and reapply sunscreen when applicable for a healthy summer day. Even if it’s cloudy or rainy the UV of the sun can still affect your skin, to lower your risk of skin cancer make sure to always use sunscreen. 

Stay Hydrated 

When it is hot outside your body tends to lose a lot of water through your sweat. Replace this water by drinking plenty of water. To keep your body healthy, stay hydrated all summer long and drink at least 2 liters of water a day. Fruits and vegetables also have really great water content and can help with hydration. 

On That Note.. Eat Healthy 

Staying hydrated can give you energy but eating healthy will also contribute to your overall health this summer. Plenty of fruits and vegetables are great options and have incredible anti-cancer benefits. 

Foods for the summer:

• Watermelon – a very hydrating summer fruit full of water and has lycopene which is a heart-protective compound. 
• Avocado – Avocados are full of heart-healthy fatty acids, folate, and fiber.
• Salad – an easy dish is a nice healthy salad, you can add any vegetables you want and be as creative as you want to be. 
• Mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries) – All those seeds mean most berries are high in fiber. Fruit is also low in sugar and calories but is still so sweet they are the perfect treat. You can enjoy these 

Don’t forget to exercise 

To get the best results, consider daily exercise for a minimum of 10 minutes per day. Increase your levels to 30 minutes most days of the week or for the recommended 2.5 hours per week. As you increase your activity, it’s important to stay hydrated. This is especially true as you start to exert yourself more in the heat and humidity of the summer months. Consider moving your outdoor routine indoors and in the comfort of air conditioning when possible. Keep in mind, seniors are going to get dehydrated faster, get overheated easier, and their symptoms arise more quickly than your average adult. It is important to observe seniors closely for prevention.

Spring Hills 

At all Spring Hills and Poet’s Walk, Spring Hills Memory Care Communities, there are a variety of ways that we keep our seniors not only active but also hydrated, especially during these summer months. We offer chair exercise and yoga classes, personal exercise physiologists, dance classes and more. When it comes to hydration, we try to not just offer it with meals, but also during and after our engaging activities. We even try to make hydration fun by offering water tastings with fresh fruits and herbs from our very own community or tower gardens. Keeping our residents happy, healthy, and having fun during these hot summer months is our number one priority.