4 Tips to Get Healthy This Summer

Summer is here which means it’s time to bust out the grills, beers, and swim suits. But sometimes when you add up the first two, you don’t want to wear the third if you know what I mean! In other words, summer time often means indulging and showing skin at the same time – a dangerous recipe, if there ever was one!

What’s great is that is doesn’t have to be this way. You can enjoy summer, look good, and be healthy too with these 4 tips below.

1. Get a Tan – But Don’t Go Crazy
Don’t go crazy with getting a tan. There are concerns that laying out in the sun continually will contribute to skin cancer. If you’re young, you don’t want to think about this, but what do you think this means then if you are so young that you have even more time to lay out in the sun each summer? The consequences can add up. Talk to your dermatologist about how much is too much and how much sun is just enough. Play it safe!

2. Switch to Lower Calorie Beer
Beer companies are going wild making beers with less and less calories. Pretty soon they’ll just be selling air in a bottle if the trend keeps up. You can drink beers now that have 1-2 carbohydrates and are under 70 calories a bottle. It’s a little ridiculous, but it also really helps keep your figure.

3. Take Advantage of the Farmers Market
Every summer in my town the farmers market opens up to throngs of the masses, ready to buy inexpensive but totally fresh foods from the local farms. This is a great way to eat more vegetables and fruits this summer and do something good for the local economy. Truth be told, the real reason you will keep coming back though is that the food just tastes way better.

4. Stay Hydrated and Drinks Lots of Juice
Being out in the sun a lot, especially if you’re drinking alcohol, means you need to replenish those liquids or else you can get dehydrated. While you’re at the farmers market, stop by the local health food shop and pick up one of those juicing machines. You can find some awesome carrot juicer recipes and start juicing this summer, getting yourself lots of liquids in the purest form possible. If you don’t have a juicer, you can still do things like make beet juice at home or of course just buy old fashioned organic juice.

5. Don’t Just Swim in the Pool – Exercise, Too
Last summer we got a pool and one of the coolest things about this was the ability to do under water aerobics. The force of the water creates a natural mechanism for exercise that is balanced and has a low impact on your muscles and joints. I loved working on abs and lower back while swimming. I also found the pool to be a create place to practice deep breathing exercises and meditative work. This summer, don’t just use the pool for fun – use it to get in shape too!