Five Tips to Stay Well this Winter

Top 5 Tips for Staying Healthy This Winter

1. Boost your diet
Eating foods that are high in vitamin C will help keep your immune system strong, so include fruit and veggies such as lemons, kiwi fruit, capsicum and broccoli in your weekly shop.

If you’re struggling to get the recommended two serves of fruit and five serves of veggies each day, try juicing them. We recommend making juices that consist of two-thirds vegetables and one-third fruit. A blend of carrot, beetroot, spinach, and lemon is a stress-busting combination that will boost your immune system.

Ensure your diet also includes plenty of lean meats, fish, poultry, low-fat dairy, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and use lots of herbs and spices.

2. Exercise regularly
It’s vital to keep your workout regimen up during winter, with a recent study showing that a moderate level of regular exercise has a long-term cumulative effect on immune response.

A recent study reported that participants who went for a brisk walk several times a week reduced the number of sick days they took by about 40 per cent.

Regular aerobic exercise, five or more days a week for more than 20 minutes a day, rises above all other lifestyle factors in lowering sick days during the winter cold season.

But don’t go overboard. Overly strenuous exercise releases the stress hormone, cortisol, in the body, which can weaken the immune system.

3. Stay connected
Socialising helps strengthen your immune system by keeping you active and reducing your stress levels, so avoid the temptation to rug up on the couch all winter.

Invite friends over for dinner or host a games night, visit local museums and art galleries, wrap up warm and go for a walk in the park with your family or plan a cinema date with your partner.

4. Get some sunshine
During the winter months, vitamin D levels fall to their lowest in most people. Make it a priority to get out into the sunshine for at least 5 minutes per day between the hours of 10-2pm. Vitamin D is essential for your immune system and can help you fight off colds and flu.

5. Sleep well
Lack of sleep can have a serious effect on your immune system, making you more vulnerable to catching colds. A study from Brazil found a lack of sleep can result in a substantial decrease in the white blood cells that help to fight infection in the body.

Create a relaxing bedtime routine, such as listening to soft music or soaking in a warm bath. Avoid watching TV or using your computer just before bedtime and turn the lights down low an hour before you turn in for the night, as it will boost the release of melatonin in the brain. (Melatonin is that natural brain chemical that comes alive when you need to sleep).

Also try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends.

Take the step toward a healthier you!
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