WINTER WELLBEING
Winter is finally here, and with June comes the joys of crisp morning beach walks, warm winter sun and invigorating ocean swims. As the days get shorter and colder, the skies are also getting brighter and bolder. From pink to red, orange and purple, the start and end of our days during these colder months are more vivid due to lower temperatures, the Earth’s tilt being further away from the sun, and the water droplets and ice crystals in mid-level altostratus and cirrus clouds.
If you don’t already have a healthy lifestyle in the warmer months, maintaining your physical and mental wellbeing in winter can be a challenge with the change in season more likely to trigger overeating, a drop in mood and illness, so here are a few tips for a healthy and happy winter.
1. Stay hydrated to ensure the body is bringing nutrients to cells, eliminating wastes, protecting joints and organs, and maintaining body temperature.
2. Improve bone health, and prevent dry skin during the winter with dark leafy greens high in vitamins A, C, and K such as spinach, kale, broccoli, bok choy and mustard greens.
3. Curb hunger and keep your blood sugar stable with seasonal root vegetables such as carrots, radishes, beetroot, sweet potato and purple yam which are complex, slow burning carbohydrates.
4. Naturally increase your body temperature with dried fruits and nuts containing high levels of nutrition, vitamins, minerals and fibre such as almonds, walnuts and cashews.
5. Boost your immunity with seasonal fresh fruits like oranges, strawberries, papaya and kiwi.
6. Reduce joint pain and stiffness with warm baths and omega-3 fatty acids in fish, nuts and seeds.
7. Fight inflammation and boost your immune system turmeric, ginger, garlic and onions.
8. Keep up your exercise to maintain immunity and enhance your mood. Ballina has a great heated pool, or try yoga, group fitness classes or strength training at the gym when the weather outside makes it challenging to exercise.
9. Moisturise your skin more and keep up the sunscreen as cold weather breaks down the skin barrier making it dryer and thinner. Shea butter oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, safflower oil and olive oil are all great natural options.
10. Wrap up warm and cover up your extremities, particularly if you have a heart condition as cold temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict, shallow breathing and a slight thickening of the blood.
11. Make sure gas heating and cooking appliances are serviced every 2 years to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
12. Keep connected and check-in on older neighbours, friends and relatives, especially those living alone or with a health condition
Signing off with a few of my favourite quotes about winter. Have a warm and wonderful month!
“He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter.” — John Burroughs
“Winter forms our character and brings out our best.” — Tom Allen
“Winter is the time of sacred balance and rejuvenation of life in preparation for the coming spring. It represents abundance, teaching and gratitude.” — Noelle Vignola
“Wisdom comes with winters.” — Oscar Wilde
“Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.” ― George R.R. Martin