Summer means lots of things, and many of them can be enjoyed outdoors since the weather has become more inviting. Most people already have their summer to-do-list out, and it’s hardly surprising to see outdoor BBQs, pool parties and getaways at the top of their list. However, you’ll want to remember that the hot summer sun does come with certain health risks, so it’s time to focus on staying healthy in order to enjoy what summer has to offer.
In fact, our St. Louis car service is just the thing you need to stay cool and comfortable this summer while traveling. We understand just how torturous it is to enter a boiling car that’s been baking under the sun for hours, so why not give us a call today or book our St. Louis airport shuttle online and start enjoying your summer journeys with us? If you’re wondering just what else you can do to stay healthy while traveling in summer, just take a look at the rest of our tips below:
Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.
Even if you ignore every other tip in this article, you’ll want to remember that maintaining a healthy level of water intake is crucial to your health, especially if you intend to travel out and about this summer. Since the usual recommended amount is 64 ounces (or 8 cups), you might want to consider increasing that amount whenever you’re under the sun for long hours.
If you’re not confident that you’ll remember to get a drink or if the place you’re visiting doesn’t provide water, you’ll best carry a water bottle around. Of course, we do understand that it’s a bulky option, so you can always invest in a collapsible water bottle that will fit into your pocket instead.
Dress For Hight Temperatures
Direct sunlight can be a real killer if we’re not careful. With that in mind, covering up bare skin usually does the trick. Avoid thick layers and opt for light, breathable materials like cotton and linen instead. These days, there are also many types of synthetic fabrics that also help to wick sweat away from our bodies more effectively.
Another thing to remember when traveling outdoors under the scorching sun is to avoid wearing dark colors as that will just trap more heat than necessary on our bodies. To ensure that your body stays cool and comfortable, you can also consider wearing looser styles of clothing.
Wear Sunscreen
Unless you’re looking to develop a tan, you can never really get enough sunscreen. One thing to note is that although products do guarantee a certain number of hours of protection, engaging in activities that result in us sweating or getting in and out of water constantly also means that we’ll need to reapply that protective layer more frequently. To make the most of summer, do remember to reapply sunscreen whenever necessary.
Boost Your Body’s Energy
If you’re going to take your health seriously, you’ll want to boost your immune system with a daily dose of Vitamin C. You can easily purchase supplements to consume, but if that isn’t your cup of tea, you can still get your necessary nutrients from fresh fruits and vegetables instead.
Antioxidants are also great for helping to prevent damage to tissues, and it can easily be found in all types of berries. Just hit up your local juice bar for some delicious mixes or get your own fruits and vegetables to experiment with at home.
Opt for Healthier BBQ Options
For those looking to enjoy a healthy and delicious BBQ, you needn’t worry that a lack of BBQ sauce will put a damper on everything. After all, cutting down on processed foods and sugars is always a good thing for our health. Properly grilled meats can always be enjoyed without sauces, but if you’re still partial to the idea, there are plenty of other sauces with no processed sugars that you can test out.
A balanced diet is key to good health, so once you’ve settled the types of meats and sauces to use, you can then move on to adding more fruits and vegetables to the grill. Options such as corn and eggplant is pretty common enough, and you can also add a sweet twist to the meal with grilled bananas and pineapples too.
Never Say NO to a Healthy Breakfast
Nothing speaks louder and more effectively than a good breakfast. When you’re traveling under the hot summer sun, it’s important to remember that feeding our bodies correctly can mean the difference between feeling energetic and refreshed and feeling exhausted and faint.
A healthy breakfast consists of enough protein, healthy fats and fiber, so resist the urge to cook up processed foods and sugars. If you don’t have the time or space to whip something up to go, you can still get your energy boost from juices and smoothies instead.
Exercise Regularly
It can be challenging to maintain a regular exercise routine when you’re on the go, but it isn’t impossible. Look up exercise routines that don’t require equipment and can be done with a limited amount of time and space. More importantly though, you’ll want to ensure that whatever exercises you choose to do is done correctly in order to avoid getting injured.
Avoid exercising outdoors during the hottest hours of the day. Instead, stick to sometime in the morning and evening to enjoy cooler temperatures. There are also precooling techniques that help to decrease your overall body temperature such as downing a slushie and draping a wet towel around your neck that you can try out.
Drink Responsibly
Downing a drink or two while traveling in summer is perfectly alright. However, you’ll want to remember that consuming alcohol in hot temperatures further depletes our water stores and speeds up dehydration, so always drink in moderation. In fact, you might even want to put a stop to hard alcohol temporarily and just indulge in light alcoholic beverages instead.