PREPARING YOUR BODY FOR WINTER

Think of it like ‘pre-season training’. By making a few changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can prepare your body to stay fit and healthy all year round.

Stay fighting fit

Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and improve your sleep, two critical precursors to a healthy mind and body.

That’s why you should get into a solid exercise routine before winter begins. Not only will it get your body in great shape so that it can fight off any bugs, but it also gets you into the habit of exercising. If you leave it until winter, when the mornings and evenings are dark and cold, you’ll be less likely to start a new exercise program.

Seek immune-boosting foods

Foods that are rich in Vitamin C, Zinc and Vitamin D are your best friends in the lead-up to winter. These vitamins and minerals are the building blocks of a healthy immune system, which is what you need to defend your body against the wave of viruses and infections that are more common in winter.

Berries are bursting with Vitamin C, so get into them while they are still fresh on supermarket shelves. For your Zinc intake, fill up on things like eggs, cashews, sunflower seeds, pepitas and whole grains.

As the days shorten and your ability to absorb Vitamin D from sunlight diminishes, then you need to get this important vitamin from other sources. You can either boost your intake of foods like fish oils, fatty fish and dairy products; or consider taking a vitamin supplement over the colder months.

Be mindful of your mental health

The winter blues are a proven phenomenon. Some people experience depression and other mental disorders in the colder months. Vitamin D is known to improve people’s moods, so if you think you are deficient in this vitamin then grab a supplement.