Tips for a Healthy Winter Season
By Donna Stark
Are you jealous of all the animals that get to hibernate during the winter? Do you wish you could spend the next couple of months on the couch with the TV remote in your hand? While napping, eating, and binge-watching your favorite shows are certainly tempting, there's no reason why you should give in to the winter blues. Forget about hibernation! Just follow the suggestions below on how to stay healthy and happy in the months ahead.
Fight Those Yucky Germs
There is an army of invaders waiting to take you down, so the best thing you can do is prepare your body and home! Make sure you are filling your diet with nutrient-dense foods, plenty of Vitamin C, and cold-busting ingredients, such as ginger and turmeric. And don't forget the basics of good hygiene. Wash your hands frequently, cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, and disinfect the common areas of your home weekly. It's good to have plenty of cold and flu remedies stocked in your medicine cabinet too, just in case you do come down with something.
Take Care of Your Muscles and Joints
Winters can be hard on your muscles and joints. When it's cold outside, the body's natural reaction is to tense up, and that can lead to aches and pains. One of the best ways to combat that is to dress appropriately. Wear warm layers when the temperatures dip, protect exposed areas with gloves, wool socks, scarves, and hats, and be sure to wear weatherproof shoes that offer good support and traction. Remember, your joints and muscles will be less stiff if you keep them moving!
Watch What You Eat
Less sunlight, colder temperatures, and gray skies are the perfect recipe for emotional eating, and when you add your favorite comfort foods to the mix, the risk of overeating is great. It's important to watch what you munch on because this season can really do a number to your weight! But there are things you can do about that. Take a look at the following suggestions.
- Increase your exposure to sunlight
- Consume a well-balanced diet
- Keep junk food out of the house
- Engage in hobbies
- Stay active
Hibernation Is Not Recommended for Humans
As much as you want to disappear for the next couple of months, deep down you know that hibernation is an absolutely awful idea, right? So, instead of choosing what's bad for your body, why don't you take the steps to make yourself stronger, healthier, and happier? With the tips above, and your local chiropractors right around the corner to help, the next couple of months will fly right by!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Tomball, Tex.