Leading a healthy lifestyle is important all year round, but the colder months can often make it more difficult to keep well. Making simple adjustments to your daily routine however can make it easier to stay healthy, helping to protect your body from winter ailments such as the common cold or the flu.
1. As many people succumb to coughs and colds during winter, it’s important to help your body fight infection. Sleep helps your body to repair itself, so if you have trouble sleeping at night, try switching to caffeine free drinks such as Barleycup, for a few hours before bed.
2. Remember your greens. Green leafy vegetables are packed with vitamins A, C, E and iron all of which support the immune system. Other nutrients which can help support immunity include zinc and selenium.
3. As the days get shorter and the temperature drops it can be hard to keep up a fitness regime. Linking up with a friend and exercising together can help both of you to stay motivated.
4. To keep warm in winter many people up their intake of hot drinks, such as tea and coffee, which can often lead to too much caffeine being consumed. Replacing one or two of these a day with caffeine free drinks is a great way to keep warm without too much caffeine.
5. Make sure to stay warm. It may sound simple but shivering can depress your immune system, making you more susceptible to bugs and viruses
6. Don’t forget to wash your hands! Germs are often spread through physical contact, keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag or at your desk and use it regularly.
7. To help your skin glow through the winter months eat foods rich in beta-carotene such as carrots, red peppers and green leafy vegetables. Nuts are also high in polyunsaturated fats which can help stop skin from becoming dry.
8. High intake of caffeine has been proven to have a negative effect on mood, and may worsen symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, so try to cut down on your caffeine intake during colder months.
9. Vitamin D is helps keep your bones strong as well as boosting your mood. However in winter your body does not synthesize Vitamin D from the sun due to the Zenith factor. Try including Vitamin D supplements and eating foods such as oily fish which are naturally high in it.
10. Iron is important to keep your immune system strong, so include iron rich foods such as oats, barley, dark leafy vegetables, tofu, nuts and pulses or red meats in your diet during colder months.
If you’re looking to guard against illness this winter, then making Barleycup part of your daily routine is a good place to start. Barleycup contains just 10kcal per cup and is made from roasted barley, rye and chicory. Because it is naturally caffeine free, Barleycup also makes it a good alternative to tea and coffee, ideal if you have trouble sleeping and are trying to reduce caffeine.
