“If your body’s not right, the rest of your day will go all wrong. Take care of yourself.”
— V.L. Allineare
January is typically the coldest month of the year. We have dark days, grey skies, seemingly endless rain and sometimes even harsher weather conditions like snow and storms.
It’s a time when it’s easier than ever to catch a cold or even a flu. Viruses and bugs are swimming around enclosed spaces like public transport, meeting rooms and classrooms and I’m sure there are plenty of people you know right now who are feeling under the weather.
We’re here to help to keep you healthy!
Here are our top tips for staying well during the winter.
Eat the rainbow 🌈
Rather than spending time worrying about how many carbohydrates, calories or fat you’re consuming, focus instead on simply choosing colourful food.
Look at your plate – is there at least one portion of green vegetables? Have you included any sunshine colours? Deep red or purples? “Eating the rainbow” is fundamental for gut health and our immune system.
Deep red and purple vegetables like beetroot, purple-sprouting broccoli and red onion reduce inflammation, help the heart and liver function.
Orange-coloured vegetables like squash, pumpkin, sweet potato and carrot are fantastic sources of vitamins A and C and are full of cancer-fighting properties and fibre. These are all advantages to physical and mental health.
Get outside as much as possible 🌦️
It’s difficult to absorb Vitamin D during the winter. Our recommendation is to sit outside around lunchtime (if you can) to give your body the best opportunity to gain some of that vital vitamin. Professor Robert Thomas recommends showing some skin other than the face and hands for maximum absorption.
Vitamin D is essential for brain health, immune system health, and bones and teeth. But being outside has huge benefits for our mental health, which subsequently positively impacts our physical health.
Stick to a routine 🕰️
Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time each morning can have a significant impact on our mood and our digestion. This can be especially important in the winter when we are living in these long, dark days.
Sleep health 😴
This is so important: reduce screen time before bed and ensure an optimum environment for deep sleep. The quality of our sleep is fundamental to our body’s proper functioning. Restorative sleep allows our immune system to be at its best, keeping us safe from any nasty bugs that may come our way.
If you’re not feeling 100%, perhaps a full body check could be a good idea to check for any deficiencies or hidden conditions.
When it comes to our health, knowledge is power. Assess your overall health at The Leeds Clinic and make sure that you’re doing all that you can to live a long, healthy life.
Stay safe this winter.
