Summer Time

 Hello Natural Health Family. I imagine you are enjoying the summer time. When we think of summer we think of sunshine, fun in the sun, vacations, parties, festivals, etc. We may also think of the warm activities, jobs, and sports that are typically performed throughout this time. The summer is a great time for new adventures, but it is also important that we take care of ourselves. 

What are some ways to take care of our bodies during the summer months? We will most likely encounter all the tasty good foods and drinks that go along with the times. These can be good occasionally and especially with good company. However, we want to also help ourselves by eating the good foods and staying hydrated well especially during the hotter weeks. It is helpful to eat good whole foods that are not processed so that our bodies are able to function more effectively. Staying hydrated is also important.  Good clean water is optimal. There are many recommendations and guidelines out there that promote a healthy diet. However, if we use our reason and take a closer look we can see that much of the information out there is confusing and misleading to say the least. When in doubt we can look back to what past generations ate that were healthy. The foods that are not found in a box, in a can, or labeled with 20+ ingredients, many of which we can’t pronounce the names to. So foods that are found in nature, electrolytes (minerals that carry an electric charge that help the body carry out functions) including good forms of sea salt, and good clean water can be helpful in keeping us healthy. 

Our health can be affected by many factors. The summer comes with good times. It also can be a time when everything is moving fast and wanting to get many things done. This can be great because we can make great amounts of progress during this time. Nevertheless, we don’t want to fall in the trap of overworking and thinking I have to get everything done now. During this time it is important to have a good pace, take breaks when needed, and be grateful for what is now. When we get so caught up in what we have to do we tend to take for granted what we get to do in this life. Practicing gratitude can help us to slow down, reset, and allow life to unfold more naturally. Many times we try to overly force things to happen. It’s at these times that things typically don’t work out the way we want them to. Many times when we slow down, relax, and appreciate what is happening, things tend to start working in our favor. 

The summer can be a joyful time but with any time of the year we can acknowledge that when we are healthy it can make things better. When we are able to take care of ourselves we can take care of others to a better degree and enjoy our time with others more graciously. Life can be seen in many ways and when we see it as a gift then gratitude comes naturally.

Thanks for reading.

Dr. Chip