FF - Your community magazine
Page 18
Female Focus
Information supplied by
Dr. I. Poole, Clinica El Arenal. Found at Av. Arenal 2, Jávea. Tel: 96 579 2418
clinicaarenal@gmail.com
Summertime tips
Summertime is a fantastic time to relax by the seaside and have lot of fun in the open air. But if we are not careful, it can have consequences that we will regret and may damage our health and/or our looks.
Fortunately, summer also brings plenty of tasty and nutritious
healthy products such as fruits and vegetables including berries (loaded with antioxidants and Carotenes), tomatoes, sweet bell peppers (good vitamin C source), and protein-filled grilled fish, chicken, etc. And by simply choosing the right ones to add to your daily diet, you can help to prevent or alleviate the common hot-weather consequences, like dry or damaged skin. With the heat of the summer, perspiration increases so skin is less hydrated, and saltwater and chlorine have an aggressive and irritating drying effect. Sunburn and insect bites may become another threat as any irritated skin (such as a mosquito bite) can blister and get infected leaving scars.
In order to protect ourselves, it is not only important to use sun blockers, wear hats and avoid being exposed to the sun when it is at its highest, but also look after our nutrition. In this sense it is advisable to increase fruit intake with particular interest on all red (or orange) fruits and vegetables for their content in vitamin A which is essential for the skin. These include carrots, tomatoes, cherries, strawberries, and also to include citric rich in vitamin C, a natural anti-oxidizer that will help to deal with the sun damage of the skin.
Drinking lots of water or fresh fruit juices is a must in the summer. It is recommended that women drink a minimum of 1,5 litres of water in the summer and men 2 to prevent dehydration. Even more: Anyone on treatment for blood pressure should have the prescribed medication revised before and during the holiday break. It is not unusual that the treatment prescribed by your doctor in the winter months to your BP well balanced, becomes too strong when combined with the heat causing unpredictable consequences. Soft drinks containing high levels of sugar will not reduce the thirst, on the contrary; the added sugar will have more of a drying effect so it is advisable either to avoid them or to replace them with their light versions.
Alcohol is also dehydrating so care must be taken in the summer in order to avoid strong drinks and/or combine them with soft drinks. If you do want an alcoholic drink, beer is the adequate choice.
You may also try drinking green tea instead of black tea. Green tea has a natural component that help speeds up your metabolism. You can pre-make it and keep it in the fridge to have a refreshing cold tea, instead of plain water. When we perspire we do not only lose water, but also minerals and calcium, therefore, it’s a good idea to replace them by eating low-fat dairy products like skimmed milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese together with the said fruits and vegetables.
Ah, and very important, don’t skip breakfast. When you wake up in the morning, your body is looking for energy, to get started. Eating a breakfast with protein, carbs, and healthy fat kicks your metabolism into high gear and provides energy for the rest of the day.
Protein, in the form of lean meats, beans, nuts, and seeds, is also important.
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