It’s not a time where we are all that conscious of stress, getting sick, or having to worry about too much other than what we’re going to do this weekend or how we’re going to spend our holidays.
Unfortunately colds, flus, sunburn, food poisoning and heat stroke don’t take a vacation, and air quality in these parts can be pretty bad when the summer fire season is upon us. This month’s article is about getting, and staying healthy throughout the summer months and it’s going to be a short article – because staying healthy is easy.
All you need to do is eat well, take a high quality supplement to fill in any gaps in your diet, exercise regularly, get a good night’s sleep, maintain a positive mental attitude and have a properly functioning nervous system. If you’re having a hard time getting any one of those elements into your regular routine, there are many resources for you to take advantage of including Nutritionists, Personal Trainers, Chiropractors, Counselors and Naturopaths.
If you have those six elements as part of your daily routine, maintaining your great health is a cinch!
Now back to that summer sickness stuff. The warm weather, and poor air quality makes for challenges when you’re getting outside for your daily exercise. Of course you can always head indoors for your workouts, to your local gym or to your home exercise equipment, or you can consider getting up early or scheduling your workout later in the evening when the temperatures cool down. My personal favourite in the summer is to take my workout to the lake and swim! By making these easy changes, you can avoid breathing difficulties, dehydration and heat stroke or exhaustion.
Now that we’ve got your summer workout sick-proofed, we’re going to address your summer diet. Picnic season brings with it potato salad, shrimp cocktail and various other potential food poisoning hazards. The warm weather means that these foods are going to perish a little sooner so be careful about how long they’re not refrigerated, carry lots of ice packs and better yet, get a great cooler bag instead of that old wicker picnic basket.
Sunburn is a major concern of mine recently with the new recommendations of recent research that most sunscreen is more carcinogenic (cancer causing) than the effects of the sun itself. There are organic and non-chemical brands of sunscreen out there that are safe, so do your research when choosing the right one for your family. For those folks who have decided to forgo sunscreen entirely, cover up accordingly, seek the shade and limit your sun exposure to the morning and evening when possible.
Finally, the common cold and flu do not take time off. Even though it is not “flu season”, we still have to maintain good preventive practice to avoid getting and spreading illnesses. This means washing hands regularly with soap and water, cleaning often used surfaces with soap and water, coughing or sneezing into your sleeve not your hands and getting sufficient rest to allow your body to not be run down and susceptible to getting sick.
Maintaining a healthy immune system is crucial to avoiding getting sick and fighting off those illnesses if you do get them. If you find that you get sick a lot more than someone else you know, ask them if they’re sleeping, eating, exercising, thinking positive thoughts and getting adjusted by a chiropractor. You won’t be surprised to find out that they are.
Questions? Contact Dr. Sarah Tremblay and Dr. Travis Pillipow at 250-454-9474, or email at info@healthinhand.ca
Dr. Travis Pillipow DC, BSc.
Dr. Sarah Tremblay, DC BHPE
Health In Hand Family Chiropractic
104-1195 Industrial Rd.
Kelowna, BC VIZ 1G4 250-454-9474
http://www.healthinhand.ca/
Adjusting you for a better life!
