Stuart P

If we were asked for a “somewhat subjective”  rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 0 to 10 we would go with…10/10: Sunshine and absolutely gorgeous! Yes, Cambridge, summer might have taken a bit longer to come round this year but we can defiantly say, it is officially here today! Most of us are already trying to organise ourselves, head to the local supermarket as fast as possible and prepare luscious BBQ’s, dig out our bikinis and book our next holiday to Greece for some well-deserved beach-time. oh, did we mention the kids are off-school too 😍

However, as we operate in the health, beauty and wellness industry we are also aware that summer is usually(and naturally)  accompanied by excessive sun exposure, sweet treats  and drinks, hay fever and other health woes – so it’s just as important to look after ourselves in the warmer weather as it is throughout the winter or spring periods.

5 Healthy tips for summer

So let’s have a look at some little advice from Dr Ahmad as well as 5 Healthy tips for summer to keep yourself healthy, fit and confident:

  • Exercise

Pick one outdoor activity (perhaps not in today’s’ heat although swimming is always a good idea)– going on a hike, taking a nature walk, playing games such as tag with your kids, cycling, roller-blading — to avoid that feeling of being caged in a gym staring at a screen! It is also a great way for the family to not only play together but also get fit together.

Regular and consistent physical exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle no matter the season and the warm summer weather can make it easy to exercise outdoors and get the whole family involved. Just be sure to take some precautions so you don’t get overheated in the hot weather which leads us to our second tip.

  • Drink fluids

Drinking water is extremely important as it not only enables your body to rehydrate but also helps you think and function better overall. Make sure you drink at least 8-10 glasses of water and ensure your body is well hydrated at all times in this scorching heat. Do not drink extremely chilled water as it will only wreak havoc on your health. You will obviously be more thirsty than usual but avoid resorting to energy or cold drinks for a change of taste and make sure you are aware of the calories in your smoothies. Whenever you feel like quenching your thirst, prefer drinking a glass of water, orange juice or melon juice.

  • Protect your self under the sun

This is indeed the most dangerous period in terms of skin cancer and other conditions die to the extreme heat and exposure to it for longer than normally. Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to UV rays from the sun and man-made sources like tanning booths so it is crucial you protect your skin at all times – especially when going out – during the long, summer days. As a basic rule of thumb always:

a. Cover up or Seek shade

b. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen

c. Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps

  • Hygiene is Key

Make sure whatever you eat or drink on is clean and hygienic as your body is already fighting high temperatures and is weaker, hence easily making it more susceptible to bugs and infections. You are prone to get bacterial infections from the utensils in restaurants and even at home so ensure they are clean and always wash your hands before eating as well as your fruit and vegetable. Be proactive rather than reactive in these cases as reactive could mean losing a day or two of this gorgeous sun due to ill health and the effect of food poisoning.

It is also very common for food to go off in high temperatures so always make sure to check prior to serving or cooking even if the USE BY date says otherwise.

  • Eat Healthy and Fresh

Which naturally leads us to our last tip which is to always make sure you eat healthy and fresh, by consuming seasonal foods as they are able to provide you with unique nutrients and health benefits. Always try to find and pick freshly harvested foods and load up on melon, mangoes, plums, tomatoes, berries, watermelon, oranges, celery, et al. Load up on more body cooling foods and more hydrating foods that will help your keep going in this heat.

We hope the above help quench today’s thirst and enjoy the gorgeous sun, in a healthy way but do feel free to email or call us if you have any queries or questions.

We’d love to hear your view so do not hesitate to contact us, click here to arrange a consultation with Dr Ahmad, send us an email at [email protected] or Follow our social media channels below on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.