Summer time is here and the livin's easy. Although, I’m not a fan of summer, my favorite season is actually winter. I know, what’s wrong with me, who even likes winter? Well, as strange as it sounds I really love the calmness that engulfs the atmosphere in winter. Despite summer being my least favorite season, even my winter loving self can’t deny that there is a certain peacefulness that overcomes me when the sun is glistening on my skin on a warm summer day. The long, warm days have a certain lackadaisical charm to them. Once summer rolls around in all its scorching and scalding glory, there are five essential items I absolutely need for optimum summering.
1 Sunglasses
This is a no brainer, who doesn’t love a swanky pair of shades to protect their blinkers from that bright summer sunshine? My go-to shades are a classic pair of aviators; I own 4 pairs. (I may or may not have a shopping problem). I’m also a huge fan of a fun and flirty cat eye lens as well. When choosing sunglasses, opt for a pair that provide UVA protection. UVA rays may cause wrinkles and fine lines and overall premature aging of the skin. (Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, 2014) You’ve probably noticed how the under-eye area and the skin on the sides of the eyes is super sensitive. It’s incredibly delicate and soft. Wearing sunglasses that provide UVA protection is like a two for one special: You get to protect your peepers as well as the skin around it and you look cool doing it!
2 Sunscreen
Slapping on some sunscreen before heading out the door is imperative. Not just during summer, but 365 days a year. Okay I admit I don’t wear it daily; if it’s raining I usually skip the sunscreen. But any other sunny day, I’m applying sunscreen left and right! Sunscreen is important for maintaining healthy skin because it protects your skin from harmful UV rays. My holy grail sunscreen that I don’t leave the house without is mineral sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen that has at least SPF 20. My sunscreen has SPF 50, but that’s because I’m dramatic and extra. Before deciding on which sunscreen to use, check out my article about the sunscreen and which ones you may want to avoid!
3 Water Bottle
Drinking a lot of water and staying on top of my water intake has always been a challenge for me. This definitely doesn’t help with my skin issues (acne). With summer here in absolute full force, the heat has left me with no choice. I finally got my act together and invested in a cute water bottle in the hopes of drinking more water throughout the day. Lo and behold it actually worked! I refill my water bottle 7-8 times throughout the day, can you say hydrated? I’m constantly chugging h20 and of course constantly sprinting to the bathroom. If you’re looking to increase your water intake, make sure to invest in a BPA free water bottle. BPA stands for bisphenol a, an industrial chemical that is used to make plastics. Research has shown that BPA can trickle into food from containers that are made with BPA. (Bauer, 2016) Additionally, there’s been concern over BPA because of it’s possible health effects related to the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses. (Bauer, 2016)
4 Frozen Grapes
This one is pretty random, but I’ve loved eating frozen grapes during the summer time since I was a little girl. My dad got me obsessed with it from a young age, in hopes of providing me with a healthy sweet treat, instead of candy. Ironically, frozen grapes taste just like that to me; candy! They’re so delicious, simple, and absolutely refreshing on a hot summer day. My favorite kind are the green ones, red grapes work just as well too. I usually pop some in my mouth when I’m leaving the house. Grapes are packed with fiber and potassium as well as other nutrients. If you’re trying to limit your sugar intake but still want to satisfy your sweet tooth, try freezing grapes this summer!
5 Vitamin B-Complex and Vitamin C
As you know, summer days are long and can be a little sweaty. Sweating affects our level of water soluble vitamins; B-complex and vitamin C. ( Williams, 2013) Typically water-soluble vitamins can’t be retained in the body for long periods of time and therefore need regular replenishing in the body. For this reason, I take B-Complex Tablets and Vitamin C by Douglas Labs to ensure my water-soluble vitamins are never depleted when I’m out and about on a beautiful summer day.
References
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center (2014) UPMC. Web.
Williams, (2013) Vitamin and Mineral Loss in Hot Weather and when Exercising. Cytoplan blog. Web.
