S U M M E R H E A LT H T I P SD R . M A R K M C B AT H :

• Summer is a great time to work on your health - body and mind.

• With a generally less stressful work schedule and days off for vacation, this time of year is perfect for making small changes to your health that will improve your overall state of well being quite significantly.

• Here are some changes you can make this summer in order to improve your health in the long run…

• First, eat more berries.

• This sounds seemingly simple, but during those long winter months many people forget to eat fruits that are often associated with summer (like berries).

• Berries contain a significant amount of antioxidants, which help to reduce risks of age-related illnesses and aid in preventing future tissue damage.

• Berries are also high in fiber and can keep your cholesterol low, which may help reduce your risk of getting certain cancers.

• Because summer is a time of year for you to relax, stress levels often slightly decrease.

• To further improve your stress level, gardening is a great summer activity to get involved with.

• Connecting with the earth by touching plants and soil is “grounding,” which can relieve both physical and mental stress.

• At our most natural state, humans are very connected with the earth and when life gets in the way we often forget to take time to enjoy nature and become grounded.

• Another great tip for improving your health this summer is to floss daily, especially if it’s not part of your everyday routine at the moment.

• Flossing takes about 2-3 minutes, so there’s really no excuse not to start doing it.

• Your overall body health can be improved just by flossing, as it reduces oral bacteria.

• According to a health article written by Kathleen Doheny, “If oral bacteria is low, your body has more resources to fight bacteria elsewhere. Floss daily and you’re doing better than at least 85% of people,” (8 Summer Steps for Healthy Living).

• Lastly, summer is a great time for you to develop good sleeping patterns.

• Resist the temptation to stay up late and try to get into a sleep routine where you go to bed and wake up around the same time every day.

• Another tip for improving your sleep schedule is to avoid alcohol consumption within three hours of going to bed.

• Summer is right around the corner, so get into the habit of implement one or all of these tips to improve your overall health.

• For more summer tips, read Kathleen Doheny’s article here: http://www.webmd.com/women/features/8-summer-steps-for-healthy-living