Winter and healthy living aren’t two concepts that necessarily go hand-in-hand, but they can. It can be tough to stay on top of your health game when the weather is cold, and there’s the urge to want to stay indoors and do lots of Netflix binging, but it is possible to maintain healthy living no matter the season.
It’s important to focus on your health when the weather is cold because it can help prevent illnesses and help you avoid that winter weight that tends to creep on.
The following are some of the best tips to help you stay healthy all winter long and into the spring.
Stay On Top Of Your Health Care
During the winter you want to make sure that you’re maintaining your health by visiting doctors when needed and keeping up with your prescriptions.
If the weather is so cold that you can’t really motivate yourself to leave the house, you’re in luck because there are a whole new set of video healthcare options becoming available.
As an example, visit SingleCare which is a health services discount program and browse online video providers. Video doctor visits can allow you to get essential care from the comfort of your home and straight from your phone or computer. SingleCare will not only help connect you with providers but also ensure you get discounts on these services.
What can be better when the weather is chilly?
Cook Yourself Healthy
While your outdoor activities might be limited in the cold weather months, you can certainly cook up a storm. When we think winter we think comfort foods and those aren’t necessarily the best for our heart or our waistline.
Rethink your idea of comfort foods and look for low calorie, nutrient-dense recipes like soups that focus on the inclusion of lean meats and vegetables. Winter is a great time to add lots of spices to our food as well so that it’s warm and comforting.
Choose spices that can help improve your health like turmeric, ginger, garlic, and oregano. You can also cook with curry powder, onion and cayenne pepper. All of these are great for helping your immune system, reducing inflammation, clearing your sinuses, and of course keeping you warm.
Your diet in winter should also focus on seasonal winter vegetables, nuts, grains, and legumes.
Drink Tea
It can be all-too-tempting to reach for a little extra wine in the winter but replace one of those glasses with some tea. Tea is an amazing thing for your health, and you can choose herbal blends that do everything from boosting your metabolism to reducing your stress levels.
Try experimenting with different combinations and see what works best for you.
Get a Flu Shot
Getting the annual flu shot may not be on your list of your favorite things to do as the weather turns cooler, but it’s important. You can reduce your risk of getting sick significantly, and if you do end up getting the flu after the shot, it will be less severe in most cases. You should also make sure everyone in your family gets one.
If you do get sick, make sure you stay home and let yourself recover. There are a few reasons for this.
First, you want to allow yourself the time to recover and avoid potential complications, but you also want to keep the people around you germ-free if possible.
Move Your Workouts Indoors
You might not want to do your daily run in winter, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop exercising. There are some great options that allow you to exercise indoors. You can join a program like Beachbody, which has hundreds of workout programs available from anywhere through their app, or you can even access indoor cycling classes on demand from home.
Apps have made it possible to essentially have access to a personal trainer or group exercise class from anywhere, so take advantage when the temperatures drop.
Finally, one of the biggest reasons people hate the winter is because they suffer from seasonal depression. This is because of two primary factors in most people. The first is a lack of sunlight during the short days of winter, and the second is the fact that we tend to socialize less in winter. Combat the light issue by investing in a sun lamp that you can place on your desk and give yourself a little light therapy each day.
As far as the social issue, make it a goal to get out and about with friends, family or your spouse for something fun at least once a week.
….
