The winter season may be busy and exciting. With so many activities like family dinners, holiday parties, and gift-giving preparation and planning, we have several distractions to prevent us from concentrating on our health and taking care of ourselves as we would normally do.
However, as soon as the holiday season is over, many people experience a lull in their desire to stay active. Many people are starting to experience depression or anxieties about the expenditures that have accrued over the holidays. Others let diet and healthy eating habits fall by the wayside. Often, given the weather, exercise is sacrificed for warm nights spent indoors on the couch.
The resistance and immunity levels are low during the cold season, while in newborn babies, it is still developing. They are therefore susceptible to prevalent germs and infections in the atmosphere. Young children’s lungs are also more susceptible to air pollution and dust allergies. That’s why you’ll see a lot of children suffering from breathing problems or lung allergies in highly polluted cities.
It may be cold outside, but winter doesn’t have to be the healthiest time of year for you and your kids. Here are five ways to ensure that even when your body tells you to hibernate, you can keep yourself healthy and fit, no matter what the weather is like.
1. Eat Warm Foods
When we think about slimming down or getting healthier, we often think about cooling food like salads, fruit and green smoothies. If you want to cool your metabolism, go ahead and eat some food. If you want to burn up your metabolism, you need to pick up more appropriate foods. During the winter months, we can choose from a whole world of warm food such as kale, collards, garlic, clove, squash, parsnips, cinnamon, fenugreek, pine nuts, walnuts, cashews, turmeric, mushrooms, and vinegar.
2. Keep Yourself Warm
It also helps to keep bacterial and viral infections safe. Cold condition reduces your immune, increasing your chances of cold, flu and pneumonia.
3. Get At Least Eight Hours Of Sleep
Earlier sunsets and less sunlight may make you sleepier than normal, and you may want to hunker down and hibernate. That’s why it’s especially important to get a good night’s sleep to regain your lost energy. Managing the recommended eight-hours of sleep is crucial as a lack of it lowers one’s immunity and energy level during winter. Avoid alcohol and nicotine for a good sleep.
4. Stay Hydrated
Because the cold weather is drying for months, and because we’re not as likely to eat those cold watery foods that we need to make sure we’re drinking enough water. Consumption of caffeine tea and coffee usually increases and can dehydrate us even more, so drink your water. Your body needs to stay healthy, and your skin is going to thank you as well. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day.
5. Exercise Regularly
With a shorter time of daylight, we tend to wake up late in the winter and slow down. Usually, our fitness routine is put on the back burner. Make a conscious effort to follow the routine of daily exercise. An extra 20 minutes of physical activity helps to improve circulation and keep those extra pounds at bay.
If you really suspect you’re coming down with the flu, a quick trip to your doctor or to a walk-in urgent care clinic will get you a prescription for flu which can reduce the duration and severity of the illness. Look out for the well-being of your family and learn how to better address their sick-time symptoms are perfect ways to ensure that you and your family stay safe this winter. Manage the stress levels and practice self-care.
Be good to yourself and your body is going to be good to you!