Summertime Survival Tips for Your Health and Well-Being

Every season brings its own challenges and its own unique brand of circumstances.

In the summertime outdoor activities are common which makes concerns over weather and the rising temperatures even more pressing. Heat stroke is a worry during the warmer months when most people are busy enjoying everything from camping to swimming to hiking to gardening and so on.

The key to enjoying the summer and to remaining in good health is to plan ahead to be as comfortable as you can be.

You may not think your choice of clothing makes a difference to your comfort level in the summer months but it does. Choose light colored clothing over dark colors during the summer. Choose garments made of cotton or a cotton blend that are lightweight and will help to absorb perspiration as opposed to having the perspiration stay on your skin and make you feel even more uncomfortable.

Cotton is also warm weather friendly because it permits better airflow which helps to keep you feeling cooler as opposed to feeling hotter! Muslin is another good choice for summer wear. Stay away from polyester blends, wools or anything that has a thick weave to it. You need to choose fabrics that will allow the heat out as your body as opposed to holding it in!

Save the heavy meals such as stews and chilli for the winter months. During the summer plan meals that are of a lighter fare. Fruits and vegetables are the best summertime food options. You should also choose meats such as fish and poultry that your body can digest easily. Foods that can be easily digested by the body are more capable of keeping your body temperature down as compared to foods that overtax the digestive system.

Think light food fare in the heat!

Set aside the hot drinks in favor of cooler beverages that can be served with ice. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate raise your internal thermostat and can make you feel warmer. That is why these beverages are so popular in the chilly winter months. Instead try some iced tea or a frozen fruit drink or fruit smoothie. Try experimenting with some recipes on your own to find out what summer flavors appeal to you the most.

Just make sure you choose beverages that are not high in sugar.

When you can go swimming, be it in a pool, at a lake or in the ocean do so. This is an excellent and fun way to cool off!  Always be safe when you are swimming. Make sure that you apply sunscreen. Reapply it after taking a dip.

If you have an air conditioner in your home then make sure you keep it serviced. It is best to having the cooling system inspected and any problems repaired before the warm months are upon you.

Fans are an excellent way to keep the air in a room from getting stall and stifling. Choose from small, medium or large fans and select sizes based upon the square footage of the rooms in your home. It is important to keep the air circulating in your residence. Make sure that wherever you are working in your house, whether it be at your desk, in the kitchen or in the living room that you have a fan nearby to keep you cool as a cucumber!

Becca

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Whipping Up a Juicy Veggie Delight!

Vegetables are good for our bodies and our minds but sometimes they get kind of … well … boring.

If you are looking for a new, creative and delectable way to eat your veggies regularly then go buy a juicer and start whipping up some concoctions that will not only  feed your cells but will have you bursting with vitality and feeling very proud of yourself. Step up your health game by refusing to be timid and by juicing up your life!

Juicing vegetables is not a new concept but it may be for you. The body actually appreciates what raw vegetables have to offer it because the process of cooking can destroy many of the nutrients that the food contains to start out with.

When you juice vegetables you make consuming the required nutrients more interesting and enjoyable. You also will retain a large portion of the fiber as juicing preserves it. In fact the fiber found in pure vegetable juices supplies your body with an adequate amount to satisfy its needs.

There are plenty of vegetables that respond very well to the juicing process. Examples of these include asparagus, beets, green vegetables such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts and cabbage. You can experiment with different vegetable juice recipes to find the ones that are most appealing to your palate.

Asparagus is very rich in an amino acid called asparagine. Unfortunately asparagine is destroyed very easily when it is cooked. That is why asparagus makes a very good choice for a vegetable juice that you create with your own juicer! It is worth knowing that asparagus is also a mild form of a diuretic.

Beets are not a vegetable that appeals to everyone but they are an acquired taste. Beets are rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals.  Beets help to improve the quality of the blood and they also enhance and strengthen the gall bladder. Do not make a beet juice drink on its own however as it can be very strong. Instead combine it with other vegetables and then blend yourself up a juice that is not only delicious but also very healthy for your body!

Cabbage in its raw form is rich in vitamins, minerals and sulphur compounds. It is also very good for the health of your colon.

If you decide to blend up a juice with cabbage in it then you should drink it as soon as possible. The reason for this is because the essential elements of it will begin to oxidize very quickly. Like beets cabbage should be blended with other veggie to make a juice. You cannot store cabbage juice therefore only make as much as you can drink at one time. Juice the other vegetables first and then juice the cabbage last.

Broccoli is very nutritious for the body. It is a member of the cruciferous family and is full of nutrients and loaded with protein. Broccoli is a green vegetable you can juice and the same can be said for Brussels sprouts. Both have tremendous health benefits and can taste very yummy in a juice once you get used to the taste.

Green vegetables in particular are very worthwhile for juicing.

Becca

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