As summer gets into gear, we’re too often looking to strict diets and exercise regimes to achieve our so-called “summer bodies” and can neglect the tweaks we need to make for our inner health.
But according to Peta Teuma, resident naturopath at GO Healthy, one of the best ways to get your body summer ready is to ensure you’re getting the right vitamins and nutrients for the changing seasons.
Here are her top tips:
SHIFT THE EXTRA WINTER LAYERS
If you’ve added an extra layer of “insulation” over winter, Peta recommends supporting a healthy weight by supplementing with Hydroxycitric Acid, which can help to reduce cravings and give the metabolism a boost.
“Paired with a healthy diet and exercise regime, Hydroxycitric Acid may help the body prevent fat storage and reduce the appetite,” says Peta. It can be found naturally in fruit rinds and flowers, which are a little tough on the palate, so supplementing with a product such Garcinia Slim Gold can be beneficial.
IMPROVE SKIN TONE
After hiding away over the cold winter months in heated rooms, the dry, warm air can exacerbate skin conditions and zap moisture from the skin. Peta recommends moisturising your body from the inside out by increasing your fatty fish intake to two to three serves per week. If fish isn’t really your thing, try taking a fish oil supplement.
BOOST ENERGY
Finding it hard to drag yourself out from under the doona, despite the warmer mornings? To give your energy levels a healthy boost, Peta recommends consuming Coenzyme Q10.
“CO Q10 helps produce energy in every cell in our body, however the ability to naturally produce it in our bodies deceases with age,” says Peta. While consuming organ meat, fatty fish, chicken and beef can increase your levels of CO Q10, it can be difficult to get enough through our diets alone and a supplement makes for an accessible alternative.
DETOX
To boost your skin clarity, liver and digestive health in the lead up to summer, Peta also recommends taking a supplement that contains Milk Thistle which can help to strengthen the liver and protect it from toxins. Try a supplement with a combination of Milk Thistle, Globe Artichoke and Turmeric to help eliminate toxins, reduce inflammation and protect the body from free radical damage.
SUN PROTECTION
In addition to applying broad spectrum sunscreen every time you step into the sun, Peta recommends taking a supplement that includes collagen to help support skin integrity.
“Skin can become damaged very quickly by the sun and while it’s enticing to spend more time outside during the beautiful summer weather, it can really speed up the ageing process,” says Peta. While there are a myriad of lotions and potions that contain collagen, it is believed that collagen needs to be ingested in order to reap the full benefits.
Peta recommends taking a collagen rich supplement, which contains essential nutrients that play a role in the formation of collagen to help support skin health. Your hair and nails will thank you for it too!
