The season of getaways and fun activities is upon us again. But summer is not all clear skies and ice cream trucks; it’s also the time when sunburn, heatstroke, flu, sore eyes and eyestrain are common.
To be able to make the most out of summer, take note of the following tips:
Be physically active
Engaging in physical activities will keep you healthy and beach-body ready—like hitting two birds with one stone. Dr. Nicky Montoya of MediCard recommends calorie-burning and fun exercises like hiking, swimming, martial arts or zumba. For a relaxing workout, try yoga at Surya Fitness Yoga that offers hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga and basic yoga classes.
Eat and drink healthy
While this is an all-year-round key to being healthy, you may make it summer-themed by incorporating more seasonal fruits and vegetables to your meals. Make a nutrient-rich smoothie using bananas, watermelons, berries and mangoes. And as much as possible, avoid or limit fatty food in your diet, such as junk food and take-out meals.
Apply sunscreen
Before you step out in the sun, it’s essential that you apply sunscreen to protect you from harmful UV rays, slow down skin aging, and reduce risk of getting skin cancer. Dr. Montoya recommends sunscreen that has at least SPF 30. He also emphasizes reapplying every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.
Keep your cool
Combat intense heat by staying under the shade and taking cold showers. Taking cold showers is not only refreshing during hot and humid days of summer but also provides numerous health benefits. It may increase alertness, strengthen immune system by increasing the amount of disease-fighting white blood cells, and improve blood circulation by transporting blood to the organs. Cold showers also refine hair and skin by tightening cuticles and pores.
Give your eyes a break
Our eyes are more at risk of getting eyestrain from overexposure to sunlight. Too much sunlight can cause painful eye conditions, including eyelid twitches, eye pain, and extreme sensitivity to bright light. In severe cases, overexposure can permanently damage central vision.
“The effects of overexposure to UV rays and harmful blue-violet light may only be visible during adulthood, when vision problems like Age-Related Macular Degeneration set in. So we strongly advise the Filipino public to take preventive measures against them,” says Essilor Philippines general manager Dr. Emelita Roleda.
Dr. Roleda recommends using Crizal Prevencia multi-coated lenses, which selectively filters bad blue light and lets in essential good light. She also advises getting a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year and taking frequent breaks from reading or looking at the monitor.