An oldie, but goodie...

For the summer…

As I walked into the park this morning, I felt the chill in the air. On Facebook, I saw pictures of the leaves changing color in New England. When the weather is hot and humid in the summer, we see and feel our bodies sweating, so we are reminded to drink water. Well in the winter, we don’t have this reminder, but it is still important to drink water, wear sunscreen and try indoor papering. Sunbathing and swimming are out unless you are a member of a “Polar Bear” club.

“Water is an essential component and makes up nearly 60% of your body weight. Your body depends on water to survive as well as regulate essential everyday functions including maintaining homeostasis, transporting nutrients, removing waste products, and hydrating tissues and organs. A lack of water can increase your risk of developing kidney stones, urinary tract infections, constipation, and even dehydration.” — Lauren Mullins, RDN, Parkview

This means that you should carry a water bottle on your fall hike or winter ski. When you don’t stay hydrated you can:

·      Lose focus and have unclear thinking, may even be dizzy

·      Have dark yellow colored pee and peeing 4 or fewer times per day

·      Dry skin and lips

·      Constipation

·      Kidney stones

And obviously, feeling thirsty.

If you feel you are dehydrated, make it a priority to rehydrate. You can drink water, eat high-water foods such as watermelon and/or cucumber, and/or in severe cases, do so with an IV (Coastal Urgent Care).

One important reason to stay hydrated is to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. Moisturizers also keep your skin healthy. I use a coconut oil lotion in the morning and coconut oil after I get out of my nighttime shower. What if we could moisturize our skin and feel like we got a spa treatment at the same time? Since we are spending more time indoors, “spa” time is a great way to take care of our mental and physical health and if done with others to bond.

My go-to moisturizing scrub:

Equal parts brown sugar and coarse sea salt. Add enough honey to form a paste consistency. Then add in 1-2 tsp. olive oil. You can use this on your body and face. I keep a container right in my shower with a spoon for getting it out.

Trust me your skin (and mind) will thank you!