Winter is arriving with a bit of a bang this year with cool temps, rainy days and an increase in coughs and colds. But there are ways to improve your wellness for the winter season, by boosting your immune system, keeping up with good eating habits, regular exercise, and treating aches and pains. Winter need not be a dreary time of year after all!
How do I stay healthy in winter?
Winter and its cooler temperature can bring with it an increase in body aches and pains and the risk of catching colds and flu. But there are a few simple things you can do to help you to stay healthy this winter. These include:
- Boost your immunity (eating colourful veggies and greens, garlic is known for its antiviral properties, mushrooms are great for immunity too)
- Stay hydrated (always important for your body to function properly – try herbal teas, warming the body also helps the flow of Qi)
- Keep moving (which can help also manage your circulation, so does wearing socks, gloves and a beanie!)
- Keep up the good hygiene habits (so important in the prevention of spreading germs)
- Manage stress and get enough sleep (the impact of stress impacts immunity, additional magnesium may be needed for muscle recovery, and B vitamins are essential for nervous system functioning)
- Treat those aches and pains (Feel Amazing offers massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, TCM, and prescribes herbs to treat inflammation and provide pain relief)
Why is immunity important?
Your immune system is there to protect you from harmful substances that could make you ill (like viruses and bacteria).
How do I boost my immune system?
There is no single pill or supplement to improve your immunity, but there are things our body needs to keep functioning at its optimal capacity. If we are lacking in essential nutrients then it can put us at risk of ill health. Many of our daily requirements come from the food we eat. The more balanced our diet the better – think colourful vegetables and greens. (see our Instagram and Facebook posts for other helpful hints and winter health tips)
If you are frequently getting colds or feeling run down, then a consultation with our naturopath or with our traditional Chinese medicine practitioner could be of benefit. They will look at your symptoms and any underlying causes contributing to these. Treatment is individualised and we can recommend quality practitioner prescribed products if needed and other treatments that can help restore your health and improve your wellbeing.
How do I avoid catching colds and flu?
Good hygiene is the easiest way to ensure we all prevent the spread of germs. We learnt from COVID just how important hand washing, physical distancing, and covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing is, to keep us healthy and safe. If you are sick, then don’t be around others. You never know if someone is vulnerable to your illness because of their own weakened immunity (they could have a chronic illness that makes them even more susceptible and at risk of other complications). This is the same for the flu season. It’s up to each of us to keep up those good habits.
When you need symptom relief, old-fashioned remedies aren’t always out of date. Studies show that eating a bowl of steaming chicken soup when you have a cold or flu can ease inflammation and help you get well faster!
How do I treat cold or virus symptoms?
Research has shown that some of the best treatments are the simplest and cheapest. Zinc and honey have both been shown in recent studies to help decrease the length of a cold and relieves coughing. Zinc and honey lozenges can be found at almost all pharmacies and health food stores, so these make an easy recommendation. Vitamin D has also been shown to help reduce the duration of a cold but needs to be taken before symptoms start, so is recommended as a winter supplement.