My Top 4 health tips for summer
- Go pick some berries! My vote goes to blueberries – coming in season in July. Blueberries are a low FODMAP food (at around ¼ cup-½ cup) – and are unlikely to cause bloating. They also provide anthocyanins (a type of antioxidant) that help skin and blood vessels. Luckily for BC residents there are many organic berries to pick locally – many without sprays or certified organic.
Recent Research on the Health Benefits of Blueberries and Their Anthocyanins https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7442370/
- Choose a safer sunscreen. Maybe you have sensitive skin – avoid fragrance. And maybe you are trying to avoid endocrine disruption from chemical sunscreens – look for a mineral sunscreen. If you haven’t tried mineral sunscreen because of the white-cast it leaves, consider trying again as it seems the technology has evolved and many mineral sunscreens are more translucent than ever now. Guides like the one on org might help you choose.
- Rest and relax. Now is the perfect time to try meditating. Just start by watching for the moment of stillness between 2 thoughts. A “beginner” brain is actually the goal – seeing the world through fresh, young, curious eyes – free of all preconceptions. If you need some help with figuring out some specifics of how to start, ask your friends and spiritual leaders for tips. When my thoughts start looping on stressful topics, I’ve been turning to the free version of the app Insight timer for guided relaxation and affirmations to give my brain something more positive to ponder. https://insighttimer.com/
- Take a forest bath. We’ve all felt the transformation in our energy after a hike through the forest, but it’s even been studied as medicine in Japan. If you’re like me and fall into the trap of assuming that you’ll go for a walk or hike because the forests are nearby, maybe it’s time to make a plan and write it onto the calendar. Consider meeting friends for a walk and talk – exercise + socialize. Next time you’re in the forest you might want to try this fun experiment – see if your food tastes different depending on what you’re hearing. On my way to work, I heard about a local restaurant (Burdock & Co) that’s offering this experimental experience to fine diners – dare to recreate it for yourself!
Effects of forest environment (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing) on health promotion and disease prevention —the Establishment of “Forest Medicine”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/taste-sound-dinner-burdock-co-vancouver
Hope these tips inspire lots of healthy, happy summer fun!
Dr. Nicole Duffee, ND
