Taking in good quality fats and oils is a good way to combat the dryness of a long summer. The tricky part is that a person’s appetite and digestive capacity tend to decrease when it’s hot, so any oils that you eat need to be light and digestible. Avocados fit the bill nicely. Nothing gives a summer afternoon boost like a big bowl of fresh fruit coated in avocado sauce. Just mash up an avocado with some honey and enough water to make it smooth, and stir it into your fruit salad, coating each piece of fruit with the creamy green nectar. Chill briefly before eating to make it extra refreshing.

You can try something similar on your green salads. Just mash some avocado with a little salt, pepper and lemon juice and slather it on. Add a dash of flax seed oil or olive oil if you want an oilier mixture.

Coconut is another great summer hydrator. Scrape out some coconut meat and place it in a blender with the coconut water, some pineapple, and a bit of ice. Blend it up and strain it if you want (some don’t like the texture of the unstrained drink), and you’ll have a cool, yummy drink that will get you back on your feet on a hot summer afternoon.

Coconut oil is also wonderful on your skin during summer. Give yourself a full-body rubdown with the stuff every once in a while before you shower. Your skin will glow for the rest of the day! Always use good-quality oils on your skin, because they are absorbed into the body and have similar effects to eating fats. Daily oil massage is a great way to stay flexible, youthful and healthy.