5 healthy summer habits to stick with all year

While, unfortunately, the weather has been quite up and down this summer, the warmer days do mean some of us will have picked up a few healthy summer habits. However, the end of summer shouldn't mean we give up and go back to our old ways. Here are 5 simple habits to maintain for year-round health.

Here are 5 simple summer habits to maintain throughout the year.

1. Stay hydrated

During the summer heat, it is much easier to remember to drink water regularly in order to stay hydrated, but as autumn creeps in and the weather begins to cool, drinking enough water every day is easily forgotten. Staying hydrated is crucial to keeping the body running at its best, aim to drink 6 - 8 glasses of water a day.

2. Remember the suncream

For many of us, suncream is a last-minute airport purchase before we jet off on our holidays and doesn’t cross our minds at any other time fo the year other than summer. While yes, the skin is at its most vulnerable when on holiday in the sun, the risk of skin damage is a year-round concern. Even on a cloudy day, the sun's UV radiation can still cause skin damage. Applying a daily moisturiser with SPF is the best way to protect your skin from UV damage.

3. Eat a seasonal, colourful diet

Many people find themselves craving more fresh fruits and vegetables in the warmer months, but eating a diverse range of colourful fresh foods all year round is a great way to get the complete range of the vitamins and minerals your body needs. When it comes to eating colourful foods, it's best when they are in season and at their brightest and ripest as that is when they have the greatest nutrient availability. As the weather changes over the next few weeks and we enter autumn, there are many different fruits and vegetables coming into season including blackberries, pumpkin, damsons and marrows. Take inspiration from the new season and start experimenting with new recipes or reworking old ones to incorporate more seasonal fruits and vegetables.

4. Check your vitamin D

Vitamin D, also known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ is essential for good health. It helps the body absorb calcium and supports both the nervous and immune systems. Vitamin D is created in the body by the action of sunlight on our skin. Although some foods contain small amounts of vitamin D, eating oily fish or fortified fats isn't enough to get your vitamin D to optimum levels. Many of us in the UK are deficient in vitamin D and despite the scorcher of a summer we have had, as the cold weather approaches our levels can take a dip. Checking your vitamin D level is simple with our at-home Vitamin D (25 OH) Blood Test.

5. Move more

Despite the rainier-than-usual rummer we've had this year, chances are you've still managed to get out and about more and therefore be more active than usual. Moving is one of the best things you can do for your body - but this shouldn’t be limited to the summer. As the nights draw in and it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the shorter days, it can be easy to put off exercise. Exercise is not only good for reducing your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes but also improves your mood and energy levels. Use the change of season as a motivator to keep up the good work, or get yourself out of an exercise rut if you are in one.

Are your habits paying off?

Being able to see the effect these habits have on your health is a great motivator to carry on the good work. Whether you wish to monitor your vitamin D levels, check your diet is providing you with what you need, or track your fitness progression, Medichecks has you covered. Order your test today!