The arrival of winter can be just as exciting as the start of any season. It can also be a busy one full of Christmas plans. In order to make the most of it you’ll want to stay fit and healthy so take a look at our top tips:
Eat well
This may seem obvious, but the start of the colder months can trigger a need to hunker down under a blanket and curl up on the sofa with your favourite comfort foods. Whereas there’s nothing wrong with a de-stress day, eating well is a key ingredient to a successful winter.
Make fruit and veg your favourite foods. Add some spices, such as turmeric, ginger or garlic, and you’ll be well on your way to a healthy start. Introducing a variety of colours is a good way to ensure you’re balancing those nutrients. Some foods have other beneficial properties. Did you know mushrooms have natural antibiotics within them?
If you’re feeling the lack of sunshine, try introducing some exotics. Pineapple, mango and kiwis are all rich in vitamins and eating them may well give you a psychological feeling of summer!
Time for Tea
As well as eating well, take some time to enjoy some of the vast range of teas now available in most supermarkets. Ginger and rosehip teas have anti-inflammatory properties whereas peppermint can aid digestion. Many believe echinacea can help reduce the lifespan of a cold and chamomile is known to aid a good nights’ sleep.
Supplement It
Whereas omega 3 fatty acids are great at reducing inflammation they can also help fight depression along with Vitamin D. For those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) where the reduction in daylight hours induces depression, these could be helpful.
Vitamin D also helps with the absorption of other vitamins so if you’re taking vitamin C to ward off colds or take minerals such as iron and calcium, it’s worth considering introducing vitamin D as well.
Keep Active
Again, another obvious one but even those with the best exercise routines can struggle when it comes to fitting in all the demands of the season. Cold weather can also be off putting. If frosty paths are throwing your morning jog, wrap up warmly and head for de-iced areas or why not stay indoors and join a club?
If you’re not sure where to start, organizations such as The British Heart Foundation have a number of events for anyone to join including walking and cycling groups, swims and even some fundraising fun for the extra adventurous, such as skydiving. Meetup.com and Spice.uk are another two online groups offering a range of events. If you’re circumstances are more complex then specialist groups are also worth exploring. For example, The Alzheimer’s Society have a range of activities to suit both those with dementia and their carers.
Wash Those Hands
It may seem a very simple measure but washing hands effectively can go a long way to avoiding germs. Germicidal hand washes actually aren’t as effective as good old soap and water.
Plan A Holiday!
If all else fails and you’re really not feeling the joys of the season, why not plan a getaway? It might not be within everyone’s reach to scoot off to The Bahamas for the entire winter season but just looking through some summer holiday brochures may be an uplift.
