Summer Health & Wellness: 12 Essential Tips for a Healthy Season

The season to shed layers! The season to vacation!

Summers bring fun. On the flipside, they also bring sweat and dehydration coupled with exhaustion, burns, tans and rashes.

Then how do you make sure you put this season of fun to good use?

Skin Care Tips For Summer 

Sun damage tops the list and is followed by many others. Here is how you can prevent it.

1. Don’t Forget sunscreen:

This you cannot miss. A generous coat is a must before you leave and don’t forget to reapply periodically. It would be even smarter to get a water resistant product with a higher SPF quotient, preferably close to 50. And when you can use products that have sunscreen in it already.

2. Skin Cleansing:

Another must in the list. Especially if you have oily skin. Excessive oil with sweating makes for a greasy look. In such cases, an alcohol free mild cleanser helps a great deal. It cleans up all the oil and dirt clogging the pores.

3. Exfoliation:

What’s the point of cleansing if you are going to leave the dead skin in place?

Exfoliate to make sure that this dead skin couple with germs and oil doesn’t lead to skin troubles. You can choose been the scrubs that are easily available in the market or opt for DIY scrubs. Try this homemade scrub by mixing 4-5 tbsp. of besan with a pinch of turmeric and 5-6 drops of rose water and milk or curd. Rub your skin thoroughly with this mixture and wash with lots of cold water.

4. Tone Your Skin:

Leaving your pores open is like leaving your home open after sending out an invitation to a burglar! Open pores are a resting place for all kinds of germs and bacteria.

Use rose water or a cucumber based skin toner available in the market. If you have oily skin, use an astringent.

5. Moisturize: 

Skin care can never be complete without the use of a moisturiser.

If you have oily skin that tends to sweat a lot with the use of moisturizers , then opt for water based moisturizers .Moisturizers actually maintain the pH balance of your skin keeping it hydrated from outside.

6. Keep your skin cool:

A face pack made with crushed cucumber and a tbsp of yogurt has a much needed cooling effect on your skin. Place two cucumber slices over your eyes that acts as cooling eye pads. You have the luxury of a spa at home now.

7. Foot care:

Closed shoes are the curse of the season.

Sweaty feet lead to rashes and fungal infections. Pull out all the sandals for the season. A simple home remedy is to also soak your feet in warm water with a pinch of salt. That will keep it fresh and free from dirt.

8. Hair Care Tips For Summer:

Sun damage isn’t limited just to the skin. Sun also dries out your  hair.

• Always wear a scarf or wide-brimmed hat if you have to stay out in the sun for long.
• Take a break and spare your hair of all sorts of heat treatments and blow drying.
• Try this hair pack at home. Mix egg white with curd and olive oil. Apply on hair and keep for half an hour. Wash with a mild shampoo.
• Do not rinse your hair in hot water. Always use cold water. Hot water may further dry out your scalp and hair.
• Consider changing your shampoo this summer. Get a moisturizing shampoo.

Diet Tips For Summers:

9. Keep Yourself Hydrated:

We tend to perspire a lot in summer and in the process we may lose a lot of fluid content The mantra is to yourself hydrated as long as you stay awake. Drink lots of water. Alternatively squeeze out a few drops of lime into your water for a refreshing change . Opt for coconut water for a nutritious thirst quencher.

i. Carry a bottle of water mixed with a few drops of lime juice, a pinch of salt and a spoonful of sugar. Drink this water occasionally. It will save you from the extreme heat.

ii.Give kids at least two bottle for the school and the summer camps, one filled with water and the other either with nimbupani or coconut water.

iii. Avoid tea and coffee during summer days. They are bound to increase your body temperature. Instead have a cup of soothing green tea.

iv. Buttermilk is another good option.

10. Summer Fruits:

Summers are the time for some exotic fruits. Choose fruits that are high in water content to keep you hydrated. We mainly depend on water melons for their high water content but we can also try out litchi, apple, mangoes, berries, grapes and bananas. These fruits are all high in vitamins and are cooling . You can eat them whole or make them into smoothies and shakes.Add cucumbers to your diet .They are cooling and refreshing .They aid in digestion and reduce body heat.

11. Water based vegetables:

You need to keep the water content in your body intact during summers. Aim to include water based vegetables in your diet .Stock your fridge with lots of carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, lettuce, pumpkins and cabbage. They provide a lot of nutrition, they also keep you hydrated from within by regulating your body temperature. Prepare a veggie salad along with your meals.

12. Non vegetarian foods:

If you are a lover of non-veg and can’t finish your meal without having one serving of it, cut down on the frequency of chicken and red meat; instead have fish. Fish is not only cooling compared to meat, but is also rich in omega-3 fats.

• Yogurt:
• It is a rich source of calcium, it is also full of Vitamin B that heals allergies, heat boils and ulcers.
• A glass of lassi or a bowl of raita is good options to try out with curd for a cooling effect from within.
• You may add a few mint or coriander leaves to these for a more cooling effect.

Care For Your Child’s Health This Summer:

Summers are always an exciting time for children. Children during this time move to go to water parks and play in pools. Here are some tips to keep your kids safe this summer

• Accompany your children whenever he/she is entering the pool.
• If he doesn’t know swimming, enroll him in swimming classes.
• Make him wear a life jacket whenever he is entering the pool.
• If your child wants to play in the park with friends, don’t allow him to go between ten in the morning and four in the afternoon. This is the time when the sun is at its peak.
• Dress your child in full sleeve clothes to protect skin from sun exposure.
• Apply sunscreen all over the exposed areas of your child’s body.
• Whenever your child goes out in the sun, make sure you ask him to drink at least two glasses of water.
• Make some fruit salad and fruit lassi for your child to enjoy this summer.

 Follow these ways to stay healthy in summers. Summer is the best time of the year so enjoy as much as you can