Youth Incorporated Magazine

Summer has set in. The scorching heat not only exhausts you, but drains your energy too. Moreover, with the school winding down and vacations on the horizon, kids and parents alike are looking forward to a relaxing and peaceful summer time. To achieve that, it is imperative to maintain a proper health by choosing the right kind of food and bringing some changes to your lifestyle. So, let’s have a look at some of the tips to keep you and your family healthy and hale during summer.

Stay hydrated

With hydration, we mean water, which is the only best way to quench thirst. It is a crucial ingredient as it keeps your body cool. The high humidity level makes it difficult for sweat to evaporate quickly and prevents the body from efficiently releasing the heat. This is why, it is advised to keep yourself hydrated and drinks lots of water even when you are not thirsty. Make sure to increase your water intake, irrespective of your activity levels.

Avoid caffeinated, alcoholic or those beverages which are high in sugar

All these drinks have preservatives, colors and sugar, which are acidic in nature and cause loss of fluids through urine. Further, many soft drinks have diluted phosphoric acid, which hampers the inner lining of the digestive system and has an adverse impact on its functions. These drinks also reduce the mineral level in the body to such an extent that it can lead to indigestion.

Avoid very chilled liquids

They do not help in cooling you down, though they make it happen only for some time. When you drink very chilled liquids, it can slow down the digestion process and when the food is not digested properly, nutrients are lost.

Reduce the intake of heaty fruits and vegetables

Certain vegetables and fruits like hot peppers, onions, spinach, garlic, grapefruit, ripe mangoes, etc.; cause inflammation and are not summer-friendly.

Have healthy snacking options

Burgers and hot dogs are everywhere, but they are not good for your child’s health. If kids are bored at home, they can drive towards mindless eating. So, to avoid it, go for healthy snacking options like nuts, fruits, salads, low fat yogurt, etc.

Never skip breakfast

Irrespective of the season, this tip goes well with all. Research has shown that those people who eat their breakfast daily get less tired during a long working day and have more energy than those who prefer only a cup of coffee or tea in the morning.

Indulge in outdoor exercise

Pick one outdoor activity like cycling, hiking, walking or play games like tag with your kids, swimming, etc. Remember, the family that plays together not only achieves good health, it also toughens their bond.

Stick to your regular sleeping pattern

As days are longer, it can be slightly challenging getting kids to sleep at a regular time. However, lack of quality sleep can result in fatigue, which has an inverse impact on your mood, energy level and cognitive functioning. Keeping a sleeping routine during summers will also help when schools reopen after summer vacation.

In addition to the above tips, it is strongly recommended to buy a family health insurance policy for all the members of your family. As summer is the time when most of the diseases, like dengue, malaria, flu, stomach infection, etc.; take place, it is wise decision to go with a family health insurance which promises to cover you and your family against soaring medical expenses. In the case of hospitalization, you would have to incur high medical expenses, however, if you will have a health insurance policy, it will take care of your medical bills so that you can concentrate more on your health rather than hospitalization bills. Further, when you buy a family health insurance policy, you would have to pay lesser premium rates than buying an individual policy for every member of the family.

A little change in your diet will go a long way in keeping you and your family healthy during summer. To retain your energy, go back to natural products. Remember, Mother Nature has so many things to give you and if you know what, when and how to use it, it will surely have abundance benefits.