From Our Chiropractors: 5 Tips for a Fun, Healthy Summer

Summer has arrived, and our chiropractors at Advanced Health Chiropractic want you to enjoy the season to its fullest while staying your healthiest. Summer not only brings fun with outdoor theaters and concerts, camping, and baseball, but also with a chance to stay healthy in new, exciting ways. Follow these five tips to improve your health and maximize your fun this summer.

Stay Hydrated

This summer, enjoy water two ways: take a swim and stay hydrated. A great option for chiropractic patients suffering from chronic joint pain, swimming is the perfect way to get exercise while relieving your joints of pressure. Swim laps or register for a water aerobics class.

In extreme summer heat, one can quickly become dehydrated and at risk of heat stroke. While outdoors, ensure you have plenty of water to stay hydrated. Water also benefits your body by enhancing muscle function, aiding in body temperature regulation, promoting cardiovascular health, improving skin health, and by cleansing your body of harmful toxins.

Visit Farmer’s Markets

Eat healthy and local by visiting a farmers’ market. Produce purchased locally, often costs less and has typically been picked when ripe. As a result, it is bursting with vitamins and nutrients. A diet filled with a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will energize your body, control your weight, improve your mood, boost your immune system, and dazzle your taste buds. Select produce in a rainbow of colors to maximize the variety of vitamins, nutrients, and benefits for your body.

Soak up Some Sun

In addition to helping your body produce vitamin D, essential to your immune system and bone health, the sun imparts several other benefits to those who bask in its light. Sunlight has been shown to deter depression, fight cancer, and relieve or heal certain dermatological conditions. If you plan to spend time outside, do not forget to protect yourself from receiving too much sun exposure; sunburns not only dehydrate the body, but can lead to skin cancer. Use sunscreen, clothing, or shade.

Get Exercise

Nothing is quite as good for you as regular exercise, improving overall health, your immune system, mood, and helping to control weight. Step off the treadmill and get outside. You can swim, hike, or join a sports league. Have fun with your exercise, and it will no longer feel like work.

Relax

After playing in the sun or working hard in the office, be sure to give yourself a break. Whether you have sore muscles or anxiety, make time to relax. Chronic stress is one of the worst things for your health, impacting every part of your body. Take a long bath, read a book, or treat yourself to a therapeutic massage.

If you would like to learn more about total body wellness, talk to our chiropractors at Advanced Health Chiropractic. We specialize in helping patients achieve optimal health with chiropractic care, medical massage therapy, nutritional counseling, and corrective exercise. Contact us today, to begin your summer wellness plan.

Sources:

Mercola (2012). Are You Making These Sunshine Mistakes?.

One:life (2012). 6 Benefits of Staying Hydrated.

Healthline (2013). 5 Benefits of Healthy Habits.

Mayo Clinic (2013). Chronic Stress Puts Your Health At Risk.

Mayo Clinic (2014). Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity

Exercise: 5 Summertime Chiropractic Tips