Beat the Summer Heat!
It gets hot in Texas. Sure, summer is the most fun season! No school, you get to go swimming to cool off, snow cones, barbecues, bike rides and more. Even if you’ve lived in the great state you whole life, and you’re use to how long the summers really last, you can never really get use to that sun beating down on you, raising your body temperature and burning your skin.
The question is: are you really taking care of yourself while enjoying the warm weather?
Always Wear Sunscreen
Always make sure to wear sunscreen, even if you don’t feel like you need it, and even on cloudy days. If you’re spending time outside, it’s dire to your health for you to protect your skin. According to skincancer.org, “Between 40 and 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma at least once. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. More than 4 million cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.” There are several different brands that don’t leave that greasy feeling or chemical smell. Our favorite is Eminence Tropical Vanilla Body Sun Cream. Not only does it protect your skin but it also provides it with many vitamins and nutrients while it hydrates, so it’s well worth the money.
Drink Lots of Water
This one should be a given, but some people don’t like water. Some people don’t even think about it, but it’s imperative to keep you from getting dehydrated while out and about. Not only that, but it’s always refreshing to get a nice, cold sip after riding that last mile with the sun ray’s beating down on you. We all know the doctor’s orders: we should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day. However, if you plan on being out in the sun for long periods of time, it would be smart to drink more than that.
Choose Tri-Blends
Lightweight cotton or triple-blends are breathable and excellent for promoting ventilation and airflow, so we suggest wearing this type of clothing if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on fancy sweat-catching, nylon work-out clothes.
Eat Light
You’re riding your bike and your stomach starts to rumble. You stop for lunch, and to enjoy some cool AC, but what do you get? We suggest eating light, maybe a salad or some fish tacos. According to livestrong.com, “The process of heating the body through dietary sources is known as thermogenesis, or diet-induced thermogenesis. After food is consumed, the body begins to work to digest this food for several hours, thus resulting in increased energy. As food is digested, it activates brown adipose tissue, which is a special form of fat deposits with a specialized protein known as mitochondria. Once the digesting process is started, the mitochondria react, which causes heat production. The National Council of Strength and Fitness reports the amount of heat generated from dietary sources is solely dependent on the type of food consumed and the number of calories within the food.”
What are some of your tips to keep cool and healthy during the summer? Share them below or on our Facebook page!
