Want to Stay Healthy all Summer Long?

As temperatures rise and days get longer, it's a perfect time to revitalise your health and wellbeing. In this post, I’ll explore simple yet effective strategies to keep you feeling your best all summer long - from hydration to sleep.

Drink more water

Stay refreshed and revitalised by increasing your water intake this summer. Not only does water keep you hydrated in the heat, but it also supports digestion, boosts energy levels, and promotes radiant skin. If you’re hoping for a little last minute weight loss before your summer holiday, it’s also worth knowing that staying hydrated will stop you confusing hunger with thirst.

Make it a habit to carry a reusable water bottle with you wherever you go and aim to sip consistently throughout the day. Your body will thank you for it. How much you need will depend on the heat as well as your activity level. The absolute minimum is about 2L.

Simple tips for staying hydrated this summer:

• Start the day with cooled boiled water and slice of lemon, lime or ginger. It’s a lovely way to hydrate well, is gentle on our gut and can support our liver function too.

• Fill and carry a water bottle wherever you go. Now is a great time to start that habit – fill it and bring it to your desk whilst you’re at home and take it everywhere you go  

• Add ice, herbs such as mint or basil, berries or sliced cucumber to water - experiment and find flavours you love.

• Enjoy your favourite herbal tea as an iced drink. Simply brew the tea, leave to cool in fridge and add ice to make an iced tea. Ginger and citrus teas work particularly well.

• Pour a drink of water with every hot drink you make!

Cut back on alcohol

While it's tempting to indulge in a cool beer or a chilled white wine during summer gatherings, alcohol consumption takes its toll on your health – even in small amounts. The NHS recommends adults over 21 drink fewer than 14 units a week (low risk drinking). Holiday drinking can mount up – especially if you’re pouring yourself or at an all-inclusive resort. It’s worth considering that binge drinking is 6+ units (women) or 8+ units (men) in a single session. This is less than two large (250ml) glasses of wine for women or 2.5 glasses for men.

Challenge yourself to limit alcohol intake and explore refreshing alternatives like mocktails or infused water this summer. Your liver will appreciate the break, you’ll have better control over your weight, feel calmer and less anxious, suffer less severe hormonal symptoms, and you'll sleep much better, so you wake up feeling more energised and focused the next day.

Get your steps in

One of the things many of us are guilty of is less activity in poor weather. With summer firmly with us, make the most of the longer daylight hours by prioritising physical activity. That shouldn't only mean structured exercise. Aim for at least 10,000 steps a day on top of your regular exercise regime to boost your cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and enhance mood. Whether it's a morning stroll, an evening jog, or a lunchtime walk in the park, find opportunities to move your body and soak up the sunshine.

If you’re away on holiday and unable to commit to your regular workouts, there are plenty of ways to keep moving, including beach treks and city walking tours. You might be surprised how many steps you can get in when you’re not tied to your desk all day.

Get the sleep you need

Sleep is essential for overall health and wellbeing, but it can be challenging to get adequate rest when summer days are long, and the nights are light. To counter this, you’ll need to put a little extra work into your night-time routine. You may find you sleep a lot better in a darkened room. This can feel challenging enough at any time of year if you live in an urban area, but summer adds an extra level. No one ever regretted investing in blackout blinds and/or a silk sleep mask. Take notes from the Scandinavian countries – where the sun rarely goes down for more than a few hours in summer – and throw all you can to tip the scales in your favour (note: these tips help create a more restful space for sleep at any time of year):

Limit screen time before bed, use a calming pillow mist like lavender to soothe the sense, practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or gentle yoga stretches. They also love their fish, especially salmon and tuna, which are high in vitamin B6, which helps your body produce more of the ‘sleep hormone’ melatonin.

Nourish your body with seasonal foods

We are officially in salad season but there’s a lot more to healthy summer eating than a few lettuce leaves. Take advantage of the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables available during the summer months. Incorporate colourful produce like berries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy greens into meals to provide your body with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Variety is not only the spice of life; diet diversity is the gold when it comes to health and wellbeing. If you can reach 50 different plant foods in a week, consider yourself a master. Most people get stuck in a rut of eating a small number of different fruits and veggies and rotating them. Trying to hit 50 is a fun challenge to take on when salads are aplenty, as they make it significantly easier to ramp up the numbers. Different salad leaves count as different foods, different types of apple count as different foods for the purposes of this challenge, as do all herbs and spices. If you made a stir fry with herbs and spices, and a bunch of different veggies, you could hit 10 different foods without too much trouble. Your body loves this variety! Have fun and see how many foods you can get. Simple tips: rotate bags of salad (finish the iceberg, buy romaine, then lamb’s lettuce, then rocket, for example) and, if you grow your own herbs, now’s the chance to add them to all your meals!

Vitamin D v skin protection

The lack of sunshine in winter months can play havoc with your health in general and also your mood because your body makes an important hormone (vitamin D) when the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are absorbed through your skin. This means summer (and sunny holidays) is a great time to top up your vitamin D levels.

However, there is a bit of a balance needed between exposing your skin to the sunlight without wearing sunscreen and not spending too long in the midday sun and damaging your skin – or worse. The research on this is a little confusing and contradictory for many people: while sunscreen does not mean you will have vitamin D insufficiency or prevent your body producing any vitamin D at all when you are in the sun, it will reduce the amount you make. It is worth noting that many of the studies that say vitamin D status is unaffected by sunscreen were based on studies that used sunscreens with an SPF of 15 – and some were funded by sun cream manufacturers.  

So, you must make your own judgement. A little exposure earlier in the day may be beneficial if you have lighter skin (you can get the vitamin D you need in 15 minutes) but going out for the afternoon without sun protection or sunbathing is not advised since we know that unprotected sun exposure/ getting sunburnt leads to sun damage, which may result in skin cancer.

Those with darker skin can need twice as long – or more – in the sun to get enough vitamin D, putting them at greater risk of sun damage.

Enjoy the sunshine responsibly by practising sun safety measures to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Wear sunscreen with a high SPF, seek shade during peak sun hours, and wear protective clothing such as hats and sunglasses. Consider supplementing with vitamin D if you have darker skin and/or do not regularly expose your skin to the sun.

Embrace outdoor activities

Make the most of the sunny weather by engaging in outdoor activities that get your body moving and your spirits soaring. Whether it's swimming, hiking or cycling, find activities this summer that bring you joy and allow you to connect with nature.

Spending time barefoot in the garden has added benefits. When you are connected with the ground, you can absorb the negatively-charged electrons from the Earth. While this may sound a little woo woo, this practice has a name: grounding, aka earthing.

It’s a concept talked about in quantum biology (which looks at how the movement of electrons or the behaviour of tiny molecules affects your biological function) and it has the potential to reduce inflammation and improve sleep.

Here are some summery ways you can practise grounding this summer:

• Beach walks: take advantage of the warm weather and head to the beach for a barefoot walk along the shore. The combination of sand and water makes for an excellent grounding experience, allowing you to soak up the sun's rays while reconnecting with the Earth's energy.

• Picnics in the park: gather your friends or family for a picnic in the park and kick off your shoes to relax on the grass. Spend some time playing games, practising yoga, or simply lounging while enjoying the grounding benefits of direct contact with the Earth.

• Outdoor yoga or meditation: find a peaceful spot in nature, such as a quiet garden or forest clearing, to practice yoga or meditation barefoot. Allow yourself to fully immerse in the sights, sounds, and sensations of the natural world while grounding your body and calming your mind.

• Gardening: spend time tending to your garden or potting plants on your balcony while barefoot. Digging in the soil and connecting with the Earth's energy can be both therapeutic and grounding, helping you to feel more connected to nature and rejuvenated.

• Camping: plan a camping trip to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in the Great Outdoors. Whether you're pitching a tent in the woods or parking your camper by the lake, camping provides ample opportunities for grounding activities like hiking, stargazing, and sitting around a campfire barefoot.

By incorporating these strategies into your summer routine, you'll not only feel healthier and happier but also set yourself up for long-term wellbeing. Here's to a summer filled with health, vitality, and endless possibilities.

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I aim to help you back on the road to wellness no matter your health concern. Did you know that personalised nutrition and lifestyle medicine can be the missing part of the puzzle to get you the results you deserve?

My special interests are asthma, allergies, skin issues, poor gut health and anxiety. If this is you, I'd love to help. Book a call to find out more.

Jo Stoate, Naturopath + Nutritional Therapist

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