The District Magazine Vol. 1 Issue 2, Summer 2016 | Page 28

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Health Tips for a

Better Summer
by Jimmy Barker

Summertime is a great time of year to be outside
and enjoy life with family and friends. But, let's
face it; sometimes, getting outside in the summer
heat can make us feel self-conscious about our
bodies and we realize we just don't have the energy
to keep up like we used to. We all know that eating
properly and exercising is important, but here are
five tips about getting healthy for the summer that
you might not know.
1. NUTRITION - While portion control matters, food choices are
even more important. Focus on eating organic vegetables to avoid
pesticides, high-quality meats to avoid hormones, and healthy fats
to start feeling better and seeing results. It's important that you don't
forget the good fats (i.e. avocado, coconut oil, free range vegetarian
eggs, wild caught salmon, etc.) to provide you with mental clarity
and energy. You need to eat fat to burn fat! I know, I know…we all
like carbs, but you need to make a decision. Do you want results or
not? It's not that you have to avoid carbs altogether, but you should
do everything you can to avoid gluten. Gluten-filled carbohydrates
create inflammation and water retention, which can make that belly
look bigger than it is. So, I highly recommend avoiding those gluten
filled beers if you want to look lean this summer!
2. RELAX - Get out of the house and have fun with family and
friends. Stress is a major enemy to your health. You can eat right,
exercise daily, optimize your hormones, and still have significant
health problems because of stress. Find a regular outlet, such as
walking, meditation, reading, or anything else you enjoy. And, I hate
to break it to you…having a glass of wine every night does not count
as a healthy way to relax. You would need to drink ten bottles of wine
to receive benefits from the small amounts of resveratrol in wine.
3. SUN - Vitamin D is essential for over 300+ processes in your
body; yet, because of our lifestyles, it is the most common nutrient
deficiency in the world. So, get out and get some sun, but be careful
with your choice of sunscreen lotion. 75% of sunscreen lotions
are filled with toxic chemicals that can disrupt hormones, cause
estrogenic effects in your body, and may increase our risk of cancer.
The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt, but where's the fun in that? In
general, mineral or "natural" sunscreen brands that do not include
things such as oxybenzone and oxtinoxate are the safest. SPF 15 to
30 is generally enough to limit the UVB rays to reduce burning while
allowing enough UVB's to get through for the production of Vitamin
D. If possible, find a sunscreen that also protects against UVA to
avoid premature aging of your skin.
4. ENERGY - While you are at the beach soaking up those rays, make
sure to take a walk in the wet sand. Ever heard of "earthing"? It may
sound odd, but science backs it up. Our bodies were not designed

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