Feel Your Best This Summer!

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:39:55 -0400

Summer is a great time to refocus your energy into revamping your health and living habits for a better you! Take a look at these simple tips to get jump-started this hot season:

Give Your Diet a Berry Boost: If you do one thing this summer to improve your diet, have a cup of mixed fresh berries -- blackberries, blueberries, or strawberries -- every day. They'll help you load up on antioxidants, which may help prevent damage to tissues and reduce the risks of age-related illnesses, including lowering cholesterol and preventing some cancers. Blueberries and blackberries are especially antioxidant-rich.

Get Dirty - Stress Less: To improve your stress level, plant a small flower or vegetable garden, help your folks mow the lawn - just get out and get dirty in nature! Simply putting your hands in soil is "grounding." And when it feels like your life is moving so fast your feet are barely touching the stuff, being mentally grounded can help relieve physical and mental stress.

Get Outside to Exercise: Choose an outdoor activity - going on a hike, taking a nature walk, playing summer games such as beach volleyball, boating, or swimming - to shed that cooped-up feeling of gym workouts.

Be Good to Your Eyes:To protect your vision at work and at play, wear protective eyewear. When outdoors, wear sunglasses that block at least 99% of ultraviolet A and B rays. Sunglasses can help prevent cataracts, as well as wrinkles around the eyes.

Vacation Time: Improve your heart health: take advantage of summer's slower schedule by using your vacation time to unwind. Vacations have multiple benefits: They can help lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones such as cortisol, which contributes to a widening waist and an increased risk of heart disease.

Sleep Well: Resist the urge to stay up later during long summer days. Instead pay attention to good sleep hygiene by keeping the same bedtime and wake-up schedule and not drinking alcohol within three hours of bedtime. It's also a good idea to avoid naps during the day unless you take them every day at the same time, for the same amount of time.

Resource: WebMD