Tips for winter

Brrr – it’s getting cold! Winter has definitely set in. Not only is it getting harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning, it seems to be getting harder to keep colds and flu’s away. Are you starting to notice yourself sniffling on your way to work and more and more people staying at home sick? Well take these simple tips and look after your family and yourself this winter.

1.Eat the proper foods
Get the recommended servings of fruit, vegetables and dairy for the day. Three servings of vegetables a day and two serves of fresh fruit and dairy should help you on your way to staying healthy.

2. Wash your hands
Did you get off the bus this morning and think “wow – they’re a lot of germs going around”. Make sure you wash your hands with warm water and a good antibacterial soap for at least 60 seconds. Try using hand sanitiser to keep those germs at bay.

3 .Get enough sleep
Everybody needs a different amount of sleep – sleep is so important for your body to recover and rejuvenate from an exhausting day. Getting run down is one of the easiest ways for viruses to have the strength to attack your body so try to start a routine; go to bed at the same time every night and try to get at least 7 – 9 hours sleep so you’re ready to hit the ground running the next morning.

4.Exercise
It’s hard to exercise in winter – all you want to do is to curl up under a blanket with a nice hot cup of tea but try to do a little bit every day. It’s recommended to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Why not a brisk walk to stay warm? Try a class at your local gym, even a boxing or a pump class to get the heart rate up.

5.Take supplements
Make sure your body is getting the right amounts of essential vitamins and minerals to keep it in its best shape. Look for a qood quality multi-mineral and mega antioxidant like USANA’s Essentials. Fish oil is also beneficial for everyone! Omega-3 fatty acids support a healthy heart, joints, eyes and brain.

6.Get some sunshine
All the winter chills are probably decreasing the amount of sun you get a day – so make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D this winter with some natural sunlight. Like most people, you may be deficient so think about supplementing with Vitamin D. Check your vitamin D levels with your health professional.

Hopefully, these hints will help you to keep those germs at bay. Rug up and make sure you stay warm. Have a great winter!