Winter – Stay Healthy This Winter
Most residents of the United Kingdom agree: winter time is for staying indoors in front of a roaring fireplace or radiator. It is for curling up in thick pyjamas and staying warm and dry while the weather rages outside. The winter time is when people do their best not to move and prefer to lie still and stay warm. This is the time of year to coddle one’s self and people figure that staying healthy is an easy task. Unfortunately, staying healthy during the winter can be harder than staying healthy during the summer and it involves more creativity. Here are some tips to help you be as healthy as you can be this winter.
1. Eat a balanced diet. Do not give in to the snacks and tasty treats that accompany the winter holidays. Make sure that you are getting all of your servings of fruits, vegetables and grains each day as well as your daily allotments of sugar and fat. Take in at least two servings of dairy each day as well.
2. Get Enough Sleep. While winter seems to encourage sleep, it might surprise you to learn how much sleep is actually lost during the colder months. Have a regular bed time and try to sleep for at least eight hours every night. Your immune system needs you to rest so it can be at its fighting best to keep you from coming down with the flu!
3. Wash Your Hands. Use hot and soapy water to wash your hands every time you visit the loo and before each meal that you eat. Most cold and virus germs can be defeated before they take hold by simply keeping your hands clean and disinfected.
4. Stay Active. Going for a run might feel brutal during the cold winter months, so invest in a gym membership instead. It is important to keep your body active to help fight off the lower moods that often accompany the cold weather and extra hours of darkness. Exercising regularly will also help fight off any weight gain you might be worried about after eating all of those holiday treats!
5. Get a Flu Shot. Flu shots are readily available and affordable. There is no reason to not get a flu shot!
6. Quit Smoking. Smoking is terrible for your health”a fact that everyone knows. Smoking indoors is extra unhealthy because it affects the health of the people in the house with you as well as your own lungs.
7. Be Happy! Staying cheerful can do quite a lot to help keep you healthy during the winter months.
Peter Benalla
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/winter-stay-healthy-this-winter-723054.html