Summer Glow 2023

Summer brings all sorts of joy and excitement for a variety of reasons. Holidays at home or abroad, lighter evenings, warmer weather, beautiful blooms and so much more. For some it can spark a motivation to get active, dust off the bike that’s been sitting in the garage over winter, go for evening walks or organising picnics in the park with friends. For others however it might bring about feelings of dread especially for those who suffer from seasonal allergies, skin complaints that get irritated by the heat or those struggling with other health issues.

Did you know that getting sunshine on your skin is not as bad as we have been made out to believe? I’m not referring to lying on a sun lounger from dawn until dusk with no cover, burning your precious skin repeatedly just for a ‘tan’, that is NOT advised. A healthy glow yes, the lobster look, nope. Exposing your body to natural daylight, morning sun and evening light, may have a positive effect on our sleep and energy patterns. Vitamin D, is not strictly a vitamin, but is actually a hormone as it can be synthesised (made) in the skin when exposed to sunlight.  Us folks in the northern hemisphere can be low in vitamin D from time to time, especially if we don’t consume enough foods that contain vitamin D, or fail to absorb it or never get the sun in our eyes and on our skin. The main function of vitamin D is to control calcium homeostasis within the body. It is an important component for the immune system by reducing the inflammatory responses to viral infections and may inhibit the development of autoimmune conditions. It has been found to play a key role in controlling inflammation within the gut mucosal lining, inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells and may also have a role in insulin secretion and glucose tolerance.  A few foods that contain vitamin D include eggs, mushrooms, liver, and oily fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel. During winter months it might be useful to supplement if required. Some food products are fortified with vitamin D. If you are unsure about how to supplement or what the recommended dosage is, please consult a qualified practitioner.

*SPF is a hot potato and a whole other blog topic but in a nutshell please consider the ingredients of your products that you apply to your skin. The less toxic load for the body the better. Cover up with a hat and clothing if you are out during the hottest times of the day. 

Hayfever can make some people feel miserable with itchy, streaming eyes, sneezing and runny nose to name a few symptoms. Many sufferers reach for medications in the form of anti-histamines and whilst these may bring some relief, there are other natural ways to support the body during these times. Quercetin can be considered one of nature’s anti-histamines. It is found in apples, green tea, red onions, some berries, tomatoes, brassica vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower and so on. Quercetin is also a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties and inhibits the release of histamine by mast cells. Including a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables daily may also provide you with an abundance of delicious anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. Again, I urge you to discuss the introduction of supplements into your regime with a qualified practitioner. They will be able to check for contra-indications with any medications or other supplements you may already be taking and to give you the best advice on quality product and dosage. 

Hydration, I probably mention in every single blog, post, newsletter that I write. I cannot emphasise how important it is to keep your cells and body hydrated. As always there is a fine line between barely drinking anything to completely flooding your body and washing all electrolytes out! Aim for approx. 2 litres of water a day, this includes herbal tea. Remember tea and coffee may have a dehydrating effect on the body, so these don’t count towards your daily fluid intake as such.

With summer might come more invitations to parties, BBQ’s and the temptation to drink more alcohol. Enter the ‘Fun Sponge’…Whilst I’m not here to ruin the party vibes, I am here to encourage you to become more aware of, and more mindful of your alcohol consumption. I’m yet to find a health positive in regards consuming alcohol, however some will argue it helps them relax, it increases their confidence and it’s a big part of their social life and culture. The term ‘everything in moderation’ frequently passes the lips of those who wish to convince me otherwise. Alcohol depletes our bodies of many vitamins, minerals and co-factors required for keeping our systems ticking over beautifully. Our livers must work harder to process and eliminate alcohol and its by-products from our systems. Some can clear these toxins quickly without too much impact, others take longer and suffer the effects of a hangover more significantly. 

A mindful exercise: I urge you to consider enjoying a glass or two of your favourite drink SLOWLY, with the intention of tasting each sip, marvelling the wonder of how this came to be, each grape or grain grown, made into wine/beer/spirit, and what it really means to you. In my opinion, alcohol should be reserved for the occasional celebratory event, to toast an engagement, celebrate a birthday or whatever. I wholeheartedly disagree with drinking to get drunk and the pushing of alcohol onto others. I encourage everyone to consider the narrative around this for our future generations. There is something hugely satisfying about waking on a Sunday morning with a clear head and a body ready to take on the day! 

My summer wish for you all is to feel vibrant, energetic and glowing with radiance. If you are ready to make some changes but don’t know where to start, please get in touch.

Best wishes, 

Sally

Sally Munro is a Registered Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, Yoga Teacher and Director of Simply Swim Aberdeen swim school. Working with clients of all ages and stages of life, Sally focuses on the simple steps you can take towards improving your health and wellbeing.

website: www.sallymunro.co.uk
email: hello@sallymunro.co.uk
Instagram: @salthewellnesswarrior
Facebook: Simply Swim Aberdeen