A GUIDE TO A HAPPY HEALTHY COOL SUMMER

Its not all hot flush’s, sweat and tears, now is the time to make the most of balancing your systems with an exciting array of fresh salads, summer fruits, sunshine, and holidays. A time for a well earned rest, relaxation, from the stress of every day life.

Recharge the batteries and boost your bodily systems.

Here are some ideas for the coming months

This is the season for really fresh foods, straight from the garden, if you don’t grow your own visit one of the many local markets for produce that has a beautiful colour and crispness, against rival supermarket stock that has been stored for months and is depleted of those vital minerals and vitamins. Al fresco eating gives you a good healthy appetite and the benefit of easy preparation, its light and nutritious, perfect for warm summer days. With plenty to choose from, why not take advantage of a diet suitable for you, low fat, low carbohydrate; see the menopause diet and blood group diet. Summer meals freshly prepared gives a balanced, nutritionally refreshing meal, a change from pre packed and convenience meals, these may be high in sodium, salt, resulting in fluid retention

Green mixed salads, of lettuce, red mustard, spinach, rocket watercress, lambs tongue to name a few, have an excellent taste and colour, mixed with the red and yellow of peppers and tomatoes make ideal accompaniments to fresh meat and fish. Fresh salad dressing made with olive oil complements any meal. Summer means time to BBQ or grill fish and meats to give a high intake of valuable protein and Omega 3

Summer fruits, will boost our intake of vitamin C which we do not store or synthesis so a regular daily intake is required to achieve the recommended daily allowance (RDA) 60mg these fruits are now in abundance especially strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, not only are they high in vitamin C but valuable antioxidants. Bananas and grapes contain potassium, which aid toxins to be flushed out of the body.

Fluids are a high prioatory at any time of the year, but more so in summer months, when dehydration occurs and catches us unawares, especially after being in the sun. Keeping hydrated requires at least 8 glasses of water a day with extra amounts when travelling, exercising or in hotter climates, (see Spring news) Fruit and herbal teas iced are refreshing, alcohol is good in moderation, add extra ice, whilst summer cocktails should be long and cool, maintaining hydration whist balancing and cleansing the body to maintain a healthy balance.

Clothing should be loose and light, use cotton when possible, especially next to the skin; this will help to keep cool avoiding extra flushes. When hot, run the inner part of the wrists under cold water or apply ice cubes to the pulses. As we age the skin (see spring news) is more susceptible to burning, solar radiation triggers free radical damage, so use a high factor skin protection even if not directly in the sun, as well as using tinted moisturising cream or light foundation for added protection.

Make the most of the light evenings, taking extra exercise whenever possible, perhaps walk home from work, enjoy an evening swim, which will benefit not only your waist-line but aid circulation and bone density.

ENJOY what we hope will be a long hot summer!