The warm months are upon us and that can only mean one thing – spending more time outdoors and less time cooped up indoors! But, with the blazing hot sunshine making an appearance, it’s important to keep your health in check. Too much sun exposure isn’t always a great thing, meaning it’s wise to take some extra steps to look after yourself this summer. This guide will reveal all.
1. Stay Hydrated
Remaining hydrated all year round should be of top importance. After all, water is responsible for supporting all of your body’s normal functions (EFSA, 2011). However, when the weather gets hotter, keeping yourself hydrated is even more important. It’s far easier to become dehydrated when you’re out in the heat and sweating more!
2. Get Out In The Sun
You probably don’t need any more encouragement to get out in the sun, but either way, we’re here to give you another reason to soak up those rays. When out in strong enough sunlight, your skin produces vitamin D. This is important as vitamin D is responsible for supporting many bodily functions. This includes the normal function of the immune system (EFSA, 2010).
Side Note: In the UK, the sun isn’t always strong enough to help your body produce some vitamin D. For this reason, a lot of people choose to take vitamin D tablets. These tablets help to safeguard your vitamin D intake all year round.
3. Wear Sunscreen
We couldn’t write a summer care guide without mentioning sunscreen! Wearing at least SPF 30 sunscreen every day will help to protect your skin from the harmful sun rays. It will also help to protect you from getting burnt. If spending a lot of the day in the sun, remember to re-apply the sunscreen every two to three hours.
4. Eat Well
It can be hard to focus on eating a balanced diet when it’s too warm to stay in the kitchen. But, skipping meals should never be an option, even if all you want to do is spend time outside.
Rather than avoiding eating, it’s best to focus on foods that work well in hot weather. These foods are ones that contain plenty of water, whether it be cucumber and celery or strawberries and watermelon. All of these foods are just as delicious as they are refreshing.
5. Wash That Body!
The summer heat will naturally make you sweat more, leading to clogged pores and poor hygiene. With this in mind, be sure to stay clean and wash as frequently as possible! This will help to keep you feeling fresh.
6. Take A Break
Last, but by no means least, be sure to give yourself a break during summer! Take some time off work if possible and treat yourself to some much needed rest. Enjoy the heat and relax as much as you can, we’re sure you deserve it.
With these six tips in mind, you’ll have everything you need to enjoy a carefree summer!