Over winter, people tend to lock themselves indoors to avoid being struck down with a cold or the flu. The body almost goes into hibernation as the days get shorter, extra layers of clothing are added and warm comfort foods are eaten as energy levels drop.
However there are better ways to keep energised and look after yourself over winter. Accredited Practising Dietitian and Exercise Physiologist Sally Walker provides some expert advice on how you can keep the winter blues at bay during the chillier months.
Maintain immunity
The right foods are important to guard your body against winter colds and flu. Try to incorporate veggies into your family's diet, specially red and orange foods such as carrots, pumpkins, squashes and beetroots. Rich in Vitamin A and C, these foods help strengthen your immune system and a healthy immune system is the body's best defence against bacteria, viruses and parasites. Experiment with warm healthy recipes such as hearty soups, lean baked dinners and low fat curries.
To prevent catching nasty bugs and viruses the single most important action you can take is to remember to regularly wash your hands. An infectious person can spread a cold by airborne droplets when they sneeze or cough and it can also spread by hand if someone has the virus on their hands and then touches their eyes or nose - so be vigilant and wash your hands!
Change in routine
As the days get shorter and darker, it's easy to slip out of your good habits by staying indoors. We can tire easily and feel less inclined to exercise though in actual fact, exercise is exactly what's needed to wake us up and help us feel alert.
If you usually eat well and exercise regularly, don't let that go to waste simply because of a change in weather. Instead, come up with a few warm indoor alternatives to keep your good habits going through the winter.
If it is too dark in the mornings or afternoons to go for a jog, try fitting a walk into your lunch break. As the temperature drops, you won't feel so hot and it's a good way to get the blood pumping for the rest of the afternoon.
You could also hire a Pilates or aerobics DVD and invite a group of your friends around to form your own work out class. There are also team sports such as netball, touch football, basketball and volleyball to consider, which all involve mixing with people, moving about and staying indoors.
However if you really want a change of routine and fancy yourself the adventurous type, why not try indoor rock climbing? It's an exhilarating way to pass the time and you will feel fabulous from the adrenalin rush!
Don't forget to drink
When the weather is cold, we're sometimes less inclined to drink as much as we do in the warmer summer months. While we may not be losing as much fluid due to perspiration, it's still vital we maintain our hydration.
Here are some quick and easy tips to help you stay recharged and hydrated during the winter months:
- Remember – all drinks hydrate, so stay warm by drinking teas, coffees, hot water and lemon and yummy miso soup
- Make vegetable soups which are not only tasty, they also pack a powerful punch of Vitamin C to help fight off those nasty colds
- Increase your daily fluid intake and be kind to the waistline by including water-based foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet
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