Summer is a certainly a season during which most people are busy and active. Between playing in the pool, taking hikes, barbecuing, and riding your bike in the nice weather, you're likely putting a lot of stress on your body this season. This is not necessarily a bad thing – exercise and being outdoors are great for your health. You should, however, make sure you're taking a little time to focus on whole-body wellness and rejuvenation this summer, so your body stays strong and able to tackle those fun summer tasks!
Here are three tips for taking better care of your body, as a whole, this summer:
Make regular visits to the chiropractor.
Chiropractors don't just deal with back pain. By keeping your spine in alignment, they ensure there's no unneeded pressure on any of your spinal nerves. This keeps every system in your body properly working in sync. In the summer when you're bouncing between 15 different activities and putting strain on your body in so many ways, visiting a chiropractor for regular adjustments is more important than ever. You'll be amazed how refreshed and rejuvenated you feel when you leave the chiropractor's office.
Take time to stretch each day.
You're likely getting plenty of exercise running around outdoors this summer, but without stretching, that exercise can leave you feeling tight and tired rather than loose and lively. Stretching each day helps keep your muscles limber, so you can play outdoors with fewer aches and pains. Stretching is also relaxing; it's good for your mental health, too!
Set aside 10 minutes every morning or evening to stretch. You don't have to do anything fancy. Some simple toe touches, sit-and-reaches, and side bends will do. A nice whole body stretch to try is to lie flat on your back, and then reach above your head while also pushing your legs as far out in front of you as possible. Experiment with new stretches (there are plenty available online and in exercise magazines) each day to keep things interesting.
Start each morning with a green smoothie.
When you're on-the-go in the summer, it's easy to let nutrition slide. By starting each day with a green smoothie, you're at least ensuring that you get in a few servings of fruits and veggies before things get too busy. Fruits and veggies are the ultimate sources fiber, vitamins, and minerals that your body needs to stay active all summer.
A good "starter" green smoothie recipe is to combine 1 banana, a handful of spinach, ½ cup frozen berries, and 1 cup almond milk in the blender, and blend until smooth. You can experiment adding other fruits, like peaches, melon, and pineapple, to switch things up. Progress by adding different types of greens as well.
If you have a million activities on your plate this summer, there's no reason not to tackle them head-on. Just make sure you take care of yourself in the process. A worn out, improperly cared-for body won't stand up to hours of hiking, biking, barbecuing, and pool play like a properly cared-for one will! For more information on total body health, contact a professional like those at Gerleman Chiropractic Office.
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