Tips for Summer Health

Let’s visit what wellness experts refer to as the “Four Pillars of Health” for some tips on a healthful summer: Nutrition, Sleep, Exercise and Stress Management.

First up:

Nutrition! Summer is a great time to think about maximizing the amount of produce in your diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables, in place of less healthful foods like chips and candy, helps people lower their blood pressure (DASH Diet), manage their weight, and stay hydrated. June is the month for strawberries, peaches, peas, peppers and more. Get your bounty at your local farmer’s market and eat up!

Next up:

Sleep! Although the longest day of the year falls in June (June 21 is the summer solstice), don’t be tempted to stay up late. It’s natural to want to maximize light hours and squeeze in extra activities, but try to keep to a regular routine and get to bed on time. Most people need between six and nine hours of nightly rest to perform at their best! 

Moving right along to:

Exercise! Once the weather warms up, options for exercise increase greatly. You’re no longer restricted to exercise machines and DVDs, so get out and enjoy the fresh air. Just remember to hydrate (good old-fashioned water will do unless you’re exercising strenuously for 1.5 hours or more) and to protect your skin from the sun along the way.

Finally:

Stress Management Remember back to your school days? Summer is a natural time to “chill out.” Take a break from work to recharge your batteries – use those vacation days you’ve saved up throughout the year. Short of a vacation, take a day trip this weekend, or plan to dine outside one evening.

Remember, Diet-to-Go's new Trackers help you reach your goals - try the Meal Tracker and the Exercise Tracker and you'll be on your way to a healthy summer!

Author: Kristen Ciuba
Kristen is a Nutritionist at Diet-to-Go, based in Lorton, VA. She tries to “practice what she preaches” by fitting in healthy foods and cooking, challenging exercise, and quality time with family and friends every day!