With the arrival of hot weather, it’s important to take a few steps to maintain optimal health. 

Many people understand the importance of hydration but need to understand the need for electrolytes as opposed to just straight water. Unfortunately, many of the sports drinks on the market are full of sugar and processed additives. I recommend you explore some of the home remedies for a natural electrolyte drink. my go-to is natural sea salt, blackstrap molasses, lemon or lime juice, and water. I may even add a dash of apple cider vinegar. The amount of each depends on your personal taste and will change day-to-day depending on your electrolyte needs. A moderate starting point would be 2 to 3 teaspoons of blackstrap molasses, 1/2 teaspoon of natural sea salt, water, and lemon juice to taste. 

If you’re lucky enough to have lotus growing on your property or know how to find the local Asian market lotus Leaf (he ye); you can add a little bit of Goji berry to your drink to give you more energy! Hibiscus or Jamaica makes a nice summer tea as well and adds an extra boost of natural vitamin C. 

Recognizing the changes in your nutritional needs is also important. What worked as a good plan in the fall and winter time may not be as optimal in Summer. Summertime is when fresh salads, gazpachos, and fruit really shine. Watermelon, cantaloupe, and other melons are wonderful with a little sea salt and help restore hydration. Cucumbers and celery make nice cool platforms for things like hummus and nut paste. Blend walnuts and water and seasonings to taste such as a steak seasoning. Garlic and olive oil can add healthy fats with a new twist. 

Being mindful of the heat is critical, especially if you’ve ever had heat stroke in the past. Unfortunately, once you’ve had heat stroke, you’re more susceptible to it in the future—pay attention to how much you are sweating or worse yet—if you stop sweating. Make sure to take frequent rest breaks and avoid the hottest parts of the day as much as possible when physically exerting yourself.

Sleep can be more challenging when the weather gets hot. Comforters and blankets with cooling properties and swapping out your heavy blankets for lighter throws can help ensure a good night's rest. 

Contrary to our American conditioning, cold drinks are not the best thing to drink when it’s really hot! When you look at the traditional drinks in areas of the world where it is extraordinarily hot, they still drink hot teas made of mint or similar aromatic herbs to help encourage sweating and maintain a normal body temperature. In the Eastern model, we view the excessive consumption of very cold drinks, especially during summertime, to be particularly damaging to digestion and overall body function. See if you can learn to appreciate a cool drink as opposed to an ice drink. Your metabolism will thank you!

Now is also the time to stock up on vitamin D—but at our latitude, the window for actually absorbing that vitamin D is pretty narrow. The goal is to get 15 or so minutes of direct sun on your skin between the hours of 11 am and 1 pm (the sun is at the optimal angle during these times to maximize production of vitamin D). For most people, this isn’t enough time to burn so you can safely do this without sunscreen.

And of course, if you’re going to be in the sun for longer periods of time, sun, protective clothing and hats (Look for pieces with UPF-rated protection) are a great idea, as well as an all-natural reef-safe sunscreen. 

Hopefully, these tips will help you make it through the summer doldrums feeling fresh and full of good health!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health regimen or treatment.