I don’t have to tell you how hot it gets here in Louisiana. It’s not just the summertime heat we need to beat, our hot days start as early as March and can often extend into the holiday season. We have to stay conscious on ways to stay healthy and hydrated.
Drink More
It’s important to stay hydrated, especially once your body begins to sweat. Many of my clients do not like to drink plain water. You don’t have to drink water in order to stay hydrated. Try drinking the sports drinks in place of water, just remember to watch your sugar intake with the sports drinks. Another option is to add some flavoring to your water.
If you are looking for ideas on how to enhance your water, here are a few tips and recipes:
Control the Sweat
If you are prone to excessive sweating, you may want to take your workouts indoors or cut back on some of your activities. Making small changes, such as wearing breathable cotton clothes can help keep you cooler. Getting a massage can help keep your muscles active and improve your flexibility if you need to cut back on your workouts until the weather cools down a little bit.
Eat Cooler Foods
Eating cooler foods such as summer salads and cold soups. Cooking heats up your house and eating hot meals can raise your body temperature and make you sweat. Two other types of foods you may need to cut back on and monitor is your salt intake and super spicy foods.
Drinking milk, eating fruits such as avocados, plums, grapes, peaches and mangos are great for cooling you off. Veggies that keep you healthy and cool are asparagus, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, broccoli, green leafy veggies, zucchini and green beans. Here are a few recipes from my friend and integrative health coach Angie B. LeBlanc:
Super Cold Drinks
This tip may surprise you, but you are better off avoiding super cold drinks. Drinking ice water with your meal can often lower your body temperature and slow down your digestive system. When your digestive system slows down, it takes longer for your body to rehydrate.
