Fun in the sun?
There are so many things we get to enjoy during the summer time for us midwestern, snow folk:
Swimming, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, the list could go on!
But, how many of those activities do we enter into without thought of the effects on our health? Here are some things to avoid as well as healthy tips/alternatives to help make your summer time amazing!
Pool time
Swimming is the ultimate thing to do when it’s hot (it’s not the heat, but the humidity right?!). But going to your local pool, soaking in chlorinated water all day may come with hidden dangers you may not have considered yet.
Chlorine is a chemical that does is most damage to the lungs. Thankfully, outdoor pools make that less of an issue because it has a chance to evaporate some and you aren’t breathing it in as much. But, chlorine is a bacteria killer and is being soaked into your skin. Does that cause issues? I would think so! Any chemical on your skin your body absorbs into your body in less than a minute. While it’s in your system, there’s the chance it has to absorb into your gut and cause issues of killing off the good bacteria. Any toxin like chlorine, the body has to do something with, and soaking in it for hours will require supporting your body to process that repair from the chemical.
Taking a vitamin C supplement before swimming is a super easy start. Vitamin C helps counteract the chlorine. Using a light oil like jojoba and rubbing it on your skin can help, even if just a little, repel some of the water, thus some of the chlorine. Lastly replenishing yourself with healthy bacteria will prevent the growth of bad bacteria. Using a quality probiotic each night as well as a fruits and greens drink will help your body overcome the negative affects of your pool day!Bug off
I hate bugs. Bugs are the reason you’ll hear me singing Christmas carols, praying for winter to come. Growing up, when I got a bug bite, it would get HUGE. DEET was my friend. But, how helpful was that in the long run to my health? It wasn’t! DEET can cause allergic reactions, it’s not safe for your brain (especially children’s), toxic to the animals around, and has carcinogenic properties.
Good news though! There’s an essential oil for that :) Here are a few I use in my homemade spray:
Lemon Eucalyptus, rose geranium, citronella, lemongrass
I have a small glass spray bottle, fill with water, and add a few drops of each into the bottle. Shake and spray!Sun block
Do not block the sun! Without the sun, your body suffers. You need sunlight to hit your eyes to help with stress and hormones. You need sun to hit your skin so your body can make vitamin D which does SO MANY THINGS to keep you well. Including helping prevent cancer!
So, instead of blocking the sun totally here’s what we do on those long days at the beach or on the boat:
Enjoy the sun for 20ish minutes! After that, we do swim shirts and wide hats. For extra long days we use a zinc oxide sunscreen; you can find one here.
There you go! Some simple tips to enjoy your summer and enhance all the amazing healing opportunities that come with summertime!
