Summer … Last Call!

Still time to enjoy the blessings of this oft-loved, too short season

MK© photo

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Not long ago many of us suffered through three or more days of ninety-plus temps—the official definition of a heatwave. Having had a lot of them in the last several months, I was fed up. I announced to no one that I was done with summer. Enough.

Today after days of grey off-shore hurricane weather, we woke to a glorious morning. Deep blue cloudless skies and crisp sunlight whispered that fall is coming. You would think this change would fill me with joy. You would be wrong. With my sometimes contrarian nature, I felt bad that summer would soon end … and so fast!

If you feel the same way, it’s time to get in motion now to indulge yourself in the last of summer’s blessings and bounty.

Summer love

Summer aficionados embrace even its heat and that’s a good thing. While most media focus is on heat’s dangers, higher temps aren’t without health benefits. In addition to more options for outdoor fun, from sports to BBQs, summer sun is the one that builds Vitamin D reserves. Research now says that the sun is more effective in D creation than fortified foods or D supplements. Dermatological experts who have long gloomily warned us that any sun is too much sun are starting to back off in light (haha) of sun’s value to D. Again, moderation remains important—no deep tanning please—but spending around twenty minutes catching rays will store a reserve of D in your body for a number of months. The sun loses its potency for creating D by the end of September so get going!

Time in the sun has more to offer than D. It is associated with lower blood pressure and at least one small study found that in the warm months people are less likely to have heart failure. Add to that research that says our mental performance and alertness are at their best when we are in warmer temps. All good.