Summer is all about fun in the sun - and it's also a good time to change your diet! The foods you eat in the winter aren't necessarily the foods you should eat in the summer. Luckily, making simple adjustments to your fueling routine will help you tackle the warmer weather. Granted, nothing is going to make you sweat less, but these summer nutrition tips will definitely make you feel slightly better about your performance on even the hottest of days.
The summer, along with vacations and time off, brings many temptations like barbeques, ice cream, and sugary drinks. During the summer, you may be on vacation or your schedule may not be as rigid as it is during the rest of the year, which can make it hard to stick to healthy eating habits. While it’s certainly ok to indulge once in a while, it’s important not to completely forgo healthy eating, even while in vacation mode. Luckily the summer is a season that offers many nutritious foods.
When it comes to athletic performance and exercise, hydration is key. Because the human body is comprised of more than 70 percent water, drinking plenty of fluids helps maintain and replenish what you lose in the heat of competition or exercise. The type of workout, duration of exercise, and environmental conditions all affect how someone should think about hydrating.
When we sweat in the gym or outside we lose water, yes, but also electrolytes. We lose sodium, potassium, and magnesium. It is extremely important that as we hydrate, we make sure it is with a balance of electrolytes as well.
Sports drinks, or electrolyte-enhanced beverages, help to replenish water, electrolytes, and energy lost during exercise. They often contain a source of energy-boosting carbohydrates, as well as a balance of potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium, which help combat dehydration, replete glycogen stores, and delay fatigue.
Visit the Farmer’s Market
Seasonal fruits are just one of the many perks of summer. Visit your local farmer’s market to stock up on seasonal produce. It tastes absolutely amazing, and it has plenty of nutrients that are beneficial for modern athletes. Here are some of my favorites: Blueberries contain inflammation-fighting antioxidants. Watermelon is a great source of water and potassium, an important electrolyte for hydration. Peaches are also a good source of potassium. Dark cherries are rich in antioxidants!
Fresh vegetables are another food that can be enjoyed. For example try, beets, bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, snap peas, tomatoes, summer squash, and zucchini. Vegetables contain many nutrients such as vitamin A and C, dietary fiber, and potassium. There are several health benefits to eating vegetables as part of your overall diet, including lowering your risk of heart disease.
Ultimately, taking steps towards better mental and physical health will complement one another. When you have a good attitude and you feel well physically, you’ll feel less vulnerable to stress. Moreover, you’ll feel as though the world has more possibilities and there’s more to look forward to during your Summer workouts.
By choosing the right foods to add to your daily diet you can still enjoy the foods summer has to offer while keeping your nutrition in check. Many professional athletes endorse the use of sports drinks to better prepare them and to stay mentally and physically sharp throughout their season. Minnesota Vikings’ Running Back Alexander Mattison also emphasizes the importance of sports drinks like Hydra-Guard in his preparation to play at the NFL level. “I believe that staying Properly Hydrated with products such as Hydra-Guard is very important because as an athlete, it becomes part of a healthy lifestyle choice and it helps me to prevent any injuries,” says Alex.