The days are getting shorter and it has certainly become colder quickly this year! It’s a harder time of the year to remain active when it’s raining and dark outside and we are about to run into coughs and colds season.
Here are my top tips for staying healthy over winter.
Eating healthy (and very delicious) in season fruits and veggies.
- Winter fruits include apples, grapefruits, oranges, mandarins and kiwifruits. Did you know that kiwifruits can have up to 3 times the amount of Vitamin C in them than oranges! Winter veggies like carrots, potatoes and peas are often great for slow cooking or in stews, and do well with being frozen, so batch cook them up to take some pressure off dinner times. Turmeric is also a great spice to include in cooking for its anti-inflammatory benefits.
Drink lots of water.
- In summer, the hot weather often prompts us to drink more water and it can be easy to forget to drink when it's cooler. Drinking water is fundamental to our health, helps with headaches, keeping our skin and body healthy and help us to remain energised. Herbal tea is great for those times when it’s very chilly outside and you don’t feel like plain water. Water with a squeeze of lemon or orange in it will give you an extra boost of vitamin C; great for preventing and helping recover from viral infections.
Keep active.
- This might look different to what being active looks like in the warmer months. It’s very common to feel less motivated when it’s cold and rainy outside and the couch and rug looks a lot more appealing. You might have to move your exercise inside to the garage or gym if it is too uncomfortable outside. There are great online programs for exercising that you can in the comfort of home. Try and increase your inside incidental exercise, such as going up the stairs rather than taking the lift.
- Exercising actually reduces the levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which is needed during busy winter months. It stimulates the production of endorphins, which can help your mood and also act as a natural painkiller. Exercise can also help to improve your immune system and help you fight off viral infections.
Come and get some Osteo treatment.
- Winter is a time we often get tight and stiff, sometimes due to the cold weather and trying to rug up or decreasing or changing our exercise routines. I can help give you ideas on different things you can try to move your body more. I’m also your number one supporter to help keep you motivated for exercise when it’s cold and dark outside. Decreasing muscle tightness and joint restriction within your body can make you feel more comfortable and help you sleep better, which is important to prevent and recover from viral infections.
The clinic is always nice warm over winter, so stay on top of your health with these tips and I’m looking forward to seeing you over the coming months.
Elle x