Are you set up for Winter Wellness?
This time of year is always a bit of a shock to me – suddenly it’s November, and suddenly it’s dark by 5pm. It happens EVERY year, but for some reason it always takes me by surprise!
It requires a bit of a mental shift to think positively about the winter months ahead, but keeping healthy, active and well is a good start. Our immune system helps protect our bodies from disease, toxins and infection and with a few easy and healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits, we can boost it’s effectiveness. Focus on what can be added to your diet and perhaps these might then start to crowd out some of the less healthy foods. These simple immune boosters are my favourites:
Spice it up! Add ginger, turmeric and garlic to your cooking to benefit from their anti-inflammatory properties
Eat more oily fish. Salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines contain omega 3 fatty acids and may improve your immune function. If you’re not a fish fan, stock up on green leafy veg, nuts and seeds especially walnuts, flax, chia and pumpkin seeds, and flax (linseed) oil
Eat a rainbow – include colourful fruit and veg in your daily diet and aim to eat at least one portion of white, purple, red, yellow, orange and green varieties every day to get the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Vitamin C is especially important so choose citrus fruits, red pepper and (surprisingly) broccoli!
Include live yoghurt and other fermented foods such as sauerkraut, tempeh, kefir, kombucha in your diet which may inhibit the growth of harmful gut bacteria and promote natural antibodies in the body
Get outdoors for the immune strengthening benefits of exercise and vitamin D. It might also help to reduce stress, boost your self-esteem and increase your endorphin levels leaving you with a feel good factor!
Follow me on Facebook here for a regular wellness boost or if you feel you would benefit from some extra support in making healthy food choices and building healthier habits, get in touch here. I provide personalised nutrition and lifestyle analysis and recommendations, and the support you need to take control of your health.
Make this winter your healthiest yet!