Tips to Having a Healthy Gut During the Summer
Rising temperatures and busy summer schedules can lead to more exhaustion, dehydration, and your gut can take a beating. We’d like to offer some simple suggestions to maintain healthy habits and make sure you make the most of your summer. A few ideas to boost gut your health include:
Staying Hydrated - High summer temps and time in the sun will cause your body to consume more fluids to keep cool, so keep up with your water and electrolyte intake. Dehydration can present as constipation, so keep an eye out for that. In general we recommend consuming half your body weight in ounces of water daily, but that can increase depending level of physical activity and time spent in the sun.
Increase Intake of Cooling and Moistening Foods - To offset summer’s heat, we recommend eating more foods (raw especially) that will help cool and hydrate your body. These include: leafy greens, melons, pears, berries, kiwi, cucumber, summer squash, zucchini, carrots, seaweed, and celery. Also includes oily foods like avocados, olives, olives, olive oil, and wild caught fish. Don’t forget cooling plants such as slippery elm, marshmallow root, aloe vera juice, and hibiscus.
Meal Planning and Regular Meals - If you are traveling during the summer, it can be difficult to eat consistently nutritious meals, so plan ahead and research grocery store/restaurant options before you leave home. This allows you to eat more regular meals and scout for more healthy options vs. easier fast food options.
Increasing Fiber Intake - Eat seasonal, local summer foods high in fiber (such as dark leafy greens, fruits, cucumbers) which will help with digestion and promote regularity.
Allowing Time For Rest - A busy summer schedule can lead to over expenditure of energy and fatigue, which will ultimately impair your gut health. Take time to rest and recharge before going onto the next activity. Bust out that hammock!
Supplementing Probiotics - Replenish your good gut bacteria with fermented foods (kraut, kimchi, pickles) and oral probiotics. This will help maintain regularity and support your immune system.
Follow these simple ideas to keep your gut health optimal during these summertime months. If you need additional support in managing your gastrointestinal needs, don’t hesitate to contact us or find a gastrointestinal specialist.