Seasonal Living: Sweet Summertime

Adrenal HealthHormone HealthNutrition
Written By Abigail King

Summer! Continually being the most favored season by most, summer is all about spending more time outdoors and enjoying time with friends and family. Alongside having fun in the sun, learn about all the ways the sun has been used as medicine, how summer gives the opportunity to embrace adventure and play, and the seasonal vegetables that support our well-being! 

Recap of Seasonal Living

In previous posts, I wrote about seasonal living and embracing autumn, winter, and spring in your life. To recap seasonal living: it is a way of living in rhythm with nature and its seasons by eating seasonal produce, participating in seasonal holidays, and looking deeper into what the lessons of each season can teach you or remind you about yourself. Instead of fighting the seasons as they come and go, it’s about finding ways to welcome them.

Summer Intentions 

Although your summer calendar may feel like it is chalked full of traveling, events, and social gathering after social gathering, summer is all about embracing adventure and play. It allows us the opportunity to embrace the warmth and all the fun outdoor activities by mixing up our routines and letting go of rigidity in our schedules. The ultimate “go with the flow” season, summer makes space for us to welcome our inner child through spontaneity and uncircumstantial fun. 

No matter where you live, the summer heat is real. Therefore, hydration is crucial. I stay hydrated throughout summer and after intense workouts with Redmond’s Re-Lyte electrolyte powder.

It contains no added sugar, is designed to support every lifestyle, is easy to mix in water, and tastes good. 

Using Sunlight as Medicine

Although rising skin cancer rates prompt fear of the sun for many people, I wanted to discuss some of the sun’s benefits to the body and break down the science of safe sun exposure. 

1.) Direct Sun exposure allows for vitamin D synthesis

Have you ever been told, “You just need some vitamin D.”? Vitamin D has been the long-standing cure-all for many negative health effects from immune to mental health. 

  • We need direct sun exposure to get natural vitamin D (check out my previous blog post on vitamin D here). Although the sun produces a broad spectrum of light, it is the sun’s UVB rays that trigger vitamin D production in the body. Every cell has a vitamin D receptor, but many of us are still deficient due to our life spent indoors. 

  • Besides sunlight and supplementation, we can also get vitamin D from our diet, although not as much. 

2.) Mental Health benefits

Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D from sunlight exposure allows us to have a boost in serotonin and therefore, a boost in mood. Low levels of vitamin D have even been linked with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. 

3.) Supports circadian rhythm

Our circadian rhythms are driven by light exposure, so getting direct sun exposure in the morning and evening will help your hormones and support your overall health. With summer having longer and sunnier days, meaning earlier mornings and longer evenings, it allows you to jumpstart the day by taking a walk outside and by adding some more outdoor time as part of your wind-down routine. 

4.) Morning sunlight

Getting sunlight exposure first thing when you wake up (within 30-60 minutes) suppresses melatonin and increases cortisol. Although cortisol is associated with being the gateway stress hormone, having it high in the morning allows us to feel alert and essential in the morning time. 

5.) Evening sunlight

Melatonin, a hormone that is naturally produced by the pineal gland in the brain, is triggered by light or the absence of it. When we are exposed to the sun when it is setting, it alerts the pineal gland to release more melatonin to gear up for sleep. Melatonin allows us to feel drowsy and tired. 

Having a regular routine of getting direct sunlight in the morning and evening will help support your circadian rhythm and its impact on bodily systems such as hormone release, digestion, mood, metabolism, and body temperature.

6.) Summer produce

The earth provides for us by having specific produce come to harvest based on what our bodies need for the season. With that being said, summer produce is abundant in all the things we need: hydration, energy boosts, and supportive nutrients and antioxidants. Choosing to eat seasonally (eating specific foods that are grown during specific seasons) has a myriad of benefits including richer flavors, more nutrients, and it supports a healthier planet. 

Check out your local farmer’s market to support local farmers and shop their organic selection! If you are local to Charleston, South Carolina, here is a list of my favorite farmer's markets: 

Here are some fruits and vegetables that will help fuel your body and mind through all the summer fun: 

  • Asparagus 

  • Bell peppers 

  • Blueberries 

  • Celery 

  • Cucumbers

  • Green beans 

  • Microgreens

  • Mint 

  • Okra

  • Rhubarb

  • Peaches 

  • Strawberries 

  • Summer squash 

  • Sweet corn 

  • Swiss chard 

  • Tomatoes 

As always, I recommend choosing whole foods over processed foods. If you can, opt for organic and locally-raised foods. If I am shopping at a grocery store, I look for the Certified SC badge for all my produce.

Dive into this season with joy and excitement! Appreciate all the fun activities spent with friends and family and spending more time outdoors. Take time to reflect during the busyness and not feel weighed down by the structure and the rigidity of a routine. Enjoy the sweetness of this season and try new things! 

Want to learn more about seasonal living?

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Abigail King
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Women’s Health and Low Progesterone