In the warmer, longer, lazier days of summer,
the living may not be easy, but your life probably feels less chaotic. Even
adults tend to adopt a "school's out!" attitude in summer. That's why
this is a perfect time to improve your health in a fashion so seasonally laid
back you'll barely notice the effort.
To get you started, WebMD went to eight health
experts in fields such as diet, fitness, stress, vision, and oral health. We
asked them this: If you could only suggest one simple change this season to
boost personal health, what would it be? Here are their top eight tips.
1.
Give Your Diet a Berry Boost
If you do one
thing this summer to improve your diet, have a cup of mixed fresh berries --
blackberries, blueberries, or strawberries -- every day. They'll help you load
up on antioxidants, which may help prevent damage to tissues and reduce the
risks of age-related illnesses. Blueberries and blackberries are especially
antioxidant-rich.
A big bonus:
Berries are also tops in fiber, which helps keep cholesterol low and may even
help prevent some cancers.
2.
Get Dirty -- and Stress Less
To improve your
stress level, plant a small garden, cultivate a flower box, or if space is
really limited, plant a few flower pots -- indoors or out.
Just putting your
hands in soil is "grounding." And when life feels like you're moving
so fast your feet are barely touching the stuff, being mentally grounded can
help relieve physical and mental stress.
3.
Floss Daily
You know you need
to, now it's time to start: floss every single day. Do it at the beach (in a
secluded spot), while reading on your patio, or when watching TV -- and the
task will breeze by.
Flossing reduces
oral bacteria, which improves overall body health, and if oral bacteria is low,
your body has more resources to fight bacteria elsewhere. Floss daily and
you're doing better than at least 85% of people.
4.
Get Outside to Exercise
Pick one outdoor
activity -- going on a hike, taking a nature walk, playing games such as tag
with your kids, cycling, roller blading, or swimming -- to shed that cooped-up
feeling of gym workouts.
And remember, the
family that plays together not only gets fit together -- it's also a great way
to create bonding time.
5.
Be Good to Your Eyes
To protect your
vision at work and at play, wear protective eyewear. When outdoors, wear
sunglasses that block at least 99% of ultraviolet A and B rays. Sunglasses can
help prevent cataracts, as well as wrinkles around the eyes.
And when playing
sports or doing tasks such as mowing the lawn, wear protective eyewear. Ask
your eye doctor about the best type; some are sport-specific.
6. Vacation Time!
Improve your heart health: take advantage of
summer's slower schedule by using your vacation time to unwind.
Vacations have multiple benefits: They can
help lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones such as
cortisol, which contributes to a widening waist and an increased risk of heart
disease.
7. Alcohol: Go Lite
Summer's a great time to skip drinks with hard
alcohol and choose a light, chilled alcoholic beverage (unless you are pregnant
or should not drink for health or other reasons).
A sangria (table wine diluted with juice), a
cold beer, or a wine spritzer are all refreshing but light. In moderation --
defined as one to two drinks daily -- alcohol can protect against heart
disease.
8. Sleep Well
Resist the urge to stay up later during long
summer days. Instead pay attention to good sleep hygiene by keeping the same
bedtime and wake-up schedule and not drinking alcohol within three hours of
bedtime.
It's also a good idea to avoid naps during the
day unless you take them every day at the same time, for the same amount of
time.
There they are: Eight super simple ways to
boost your health this summer. Try one or try them all. They're so easy you
won't even know they're -- shhhh -- good for you.
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