By Benjie S. De Yro
Summer time can be the best time in the Philippines; it can also be one of the most dangerous periods for your health.
Read on.
Philippine summers are characterized with abundant fresh fruits and enough time to go on field trips, excursions, family gathering and whatever gimmick the family can think of. That’s where the danger lies.
Here are some tips this summer to safeguard your health without being ‘killjoy’ to yourself, based on experts’ advise. At random now:
1. Drink a lot of water
Insufficient water intake can cause you to more calories. Less water can likewise make you feel tired and dizzy. Plenty of water is an excellent way to regulate your body temperature.
Two to four cups of water upon waking up is healthy by ensuring proper functioning of the organs.
2. Be choosy on what you stock on your refrigerators. Children tend to pick what they see inside your cooler. Stock it with healthy foods and healthy drinks instead. You can prepare fresh fruit juices from pandan leaves, kalamansi, pineapples and other available refreshing fruits in summer. Children are always hungry. Snacks are nutritious and healthy when they are low in sugar, fat and salt.
3. Invite your children to market. Introduce them to local products and food producers. The local market is usually full of brightly colored fruits and vegetables and try to explain health benefits of each fruit or vegetables. It can be educational for them as they get expose to healthy food and practices.
4. Always bring healthy foods in your travel and family gatherings. You just don’t know what food is offered along the way. Most of the time, these are the fancy foods concocted to attempt the kids. Bring nutrient-dense foods to maintain weight. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be your best bet.
5. Avoid hot dogs, chips fried food, soda, and desserts. At the height of summer festivities, avoid drinking alcohol which can contain very high calories. Choose, instead, lower-calories drinks like light beer or a small glass of wine.
6. When dinning out, avoid traditional foods like hamburgers, hot dogs or highly processed meat. Vegetables and fish can be the best alternative.
7. Remember that skipping meals is not the best idea. It can lead to physical and mental fatigue and might tempt you to eat more the next meal. Also, mind your plate. Just half-fill it with non starchy food, or protein foods and fiber rich foods such as fruits and vegetables at one-fourth content. Sugar and processed grains should likewise be avoided.
8. As a supplement to your liquid requirements during summer, you can blend fresh fruits with water, yogurt or milk for a healthy drink.
Finally, summer or no summer, you are what you eat.
