Winter-time is here – are you ready?

Winter has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere; with snow on the mountains and cold fronts hitting the shores.  Now is the time to start taking extra care of everybody’s health!

Start by taking extra vitamin B and vitamin C; especially a vitamin C that targets colds and flu (for example Viral Choice’s Vitamin C with Echinacea).  If you, or anyone in your family, suffer from a sensitive stomach, use buffered vitamin C (it comes in a powder and tablet form). Because vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin (your body does not store it), it is necessary to take it on a daily basis.  

Drink at least 6 – 8 glasses of water a day to keep you hydrated and your skin from drying out. Being inside is lovely, but like the wind, the warm air can also dry out the skin. A good tip is to put a small bowl or plate of water in every room to keep it moist – that way the air won’t be dry, especially if you are indoors most of the time.

Do not take antibiotics (unless it becomes worse)!  Why?  Because colds and flu are caused by viruses and taking antibiotics will only target the bacteria that created the viruses in the first place.

Rather up your fluid intake, make a chicken soup / broth – you know; like the one your gran / mom always made?  And get plenty of rest!  Have a sore throat?  Gargle with salt stirred into warm water.  Salt is a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory!  Blocked nose? Mix some salt with a little bit of bicarbonate of soda in warm water and sniff!?  It will help to clear your stuffy nose!

Add more fruit and vegetables to your diet, for example citrus fruits, kiwi, papaya, broccoli and spinach.  Eat foods that contain probiotics, for example yoghurt (a good immune-booster), add honey and/or garlic to your food and drinks (both have natural anti-inflammatory properties in) and oily fish for those omega 3 and 6-oils (another important immune system building block).

The last thing you want to do when it is freezing outside is to get up…and if the weather is dull…it makes it even harder! But; there is a way to get rid of those winter blues and that is…laughter!  Laughing gives your immune system a boost by raising the levels of antibodies in your white blood cells; helping them to fight off viruses and other infections.  Laughter, therefore, is the best medicine!

A very important habit for everyone (not just in winter) is to wash your hands when you come home from work, the shops, the gym or the school.  Don’t touch your eyes, mouth or nose if you haven’t washed your hands yet and guard against using utensils of someone that is ill.  Teach the children to cover their mouths when they cough or their noses when they sneeze. 

Elderly people should take extra care during winter as they are more susceptible to illnesses.  Studies have shown that extra zinc (or a zinc supplement) not only boosts the immune system, but it can also shorten the duration of the cold (if taken within 24 hours after the cold started). 

Open the windows at home and let the crisp, fresh air blow through.  Staying in heating all the time and then going into the cold is not always such a good idea.  However, if you are indoors with the heater on, do remember to keep the air humidified.

An old tip from my late granddad:  when you go outside into the cold, cover your mouth!  Why?  Because breathing cold air in (especially if you are feeling a bit under the weather), can bring about a cold, flu and/or sore throat! 

All in all, winter does not have to be a time to dread!  In fact, there are many things to look forward to:  from dressing warm, walking in nature (keep active!) and enjoying the “different look” of the plants, to drinking hot chocolate and snuggling under the duvet to watch a movie and laughing your blues away! ��#