5 tips to thrive this SUMMER
Image by Henrik Purienne via Pinterest
Leave the ‘normal’ programming without completely throwing away all of your healthy habits!
The festive season for the year has arrived and naturally, our normal daily health rituals get moved down the list of priorities. Now I believe this can be wonderful for our health, to give us a little break and reset, before we get back to the normal programming of life. However, we can get quite caught out if we completely throw away all our healthy habits. Let’s discuss how we can provide a break for our bodies without disrupting our health entirely.
hydration:
Keeping up your water intake, whether you are consuming more alcohol than normal or if it’s a hot summer’s day, is key to supporting your health through summer. The body requires water for many functions, but the one we require most during the festive season is to help flush out toxins and waste. Additionally, water will aid in digestion and support nutrient transportation throughout the body.
Aim for 2-3L per day.
sleep:
The benefits of sleep can sometimes be overlooked. When dealing with more social days, sleep can support us by allowing our body to rest & reset. Sleep is also a time where our body can repair and rebuild tissues within our gut, supports liver metabolism and supports regulation of hormones associated with our appetite.
Aim for 7.5-8.5 hours per night.
movement:
Movement during summer can look different than what it does for your normal day. If you do more HIIT movements during the year, change it up to a slower pace of yoga or walking to ensure you’re giving your body the rest it needs but still supporting your health by getting moving. Movement through the festive season will increase blood flow to the liver and the gut, which will support their natural processes. If you are someone who feels overwhelmed by the holidays, movement, such as walks or yoga, can be a great support for our nervous system.
Schedule in 30 minutes per day for movement.
liver support:
Looking forward to indulging in more alcohol & delicious foods, supporting your liver function is necessary. As we all know, the liver is our main detoxifier of toxins and waste. Ensuring you are supporting it during this time of year will ensure your liver isn’t burdened and will continue to be able to detoxify.
Support your liver by enhancing (or continuing) to consume your cruciferous vegetables, keeping up with water intake, eating protein with each meal, moving your bowels daily, drinking dandelion tea & if you really want to kick it up a notch – reach for supplements such as NAC & Zinc.*
nutrition:
Whilst this time of the year is the time to indulge, and as it should be – in order for our body to support us we need to support it nutritionally. My little secret (not anymore) during summer is to have a nutrient rich breakfast. The way you start your day can set you up for the rest of the day, so if you can include vegetables in your breakfast, you (and your body) will thank you for it later. Think: zucchini in smoothies/smoothie bowls (trust me you can’t taste it), sauteed greens & eggs, breaky bowl filled with eggs, rice, avo & greens.
In summary, the festive season is one to be enjoyed. So eat that christmas pudding and enjoy it. Leave the guilt at the door and support your body in small ways and you’ll start 2024 strong!
- Article by Georga Holt, Naturpath
*Always speak to a health care practitioner to ensure supplements are safe alongside your current regime.