Staying healthy in the winter is about maximizing comfort at every turn. The cozier and warmer you can stay, the easier it will be for you to carry out those typical healthy behaviors you enjoy during the warmer months.
Although it takes some creativity and planning to stay comfortable during the winter, the effort is well worth it. In this article, we offer three tips for sticking to your usual healthy habits during the winter.
1. Prioritize Your Nutrition
In the winter, our immune systems become more fragile. Incorporate healthy foods like root vegetables, starches, and hearty stews into your diet to stay healthy.
Spices like cinnamon, allspice, and turmeric will keep you filled with inflammation-fighting antioxidants. You can incorporate green juices and chewy vitamins into your diet to take care of any nutritional gaps or deficiencies.
Try to prioritize your nutrition so that your body gets everything that it needs. It is natural to gravitate toward warm beverages when the weather is colder, but watch your coffee intake. When we drink things with diuretic qualities, we often lose minerals and electrolytes as we shed water weight.
To combat these issues, stock up on fresh orange juice and chicken broth to sip on and keep your energy up. You can also find electrolyte powders to mix into your water if you want to be sure you’re replenishing properly.
2. Stay Physically Active
Even though it is cold outside, that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to stay motivated to exercise. Here are some ideas to stay active during the winter season:
- If you wear an adequate amount of warm layers and replace your fitness gear so it’s suitable for winter exercise, your outdoor jog should be bearable.
- If you’re totally against stepping foot anywhere near the snow, exercise indoors, either at a gym you belong to or from home.
- You can find fold-down ellipticals and bikes that are perfect for at-home use without taking up space.
- If you’d rather work out without the equipment, throw on a fitness video and follow along.
Yes, working out in the cold can be challenging, but it is certainly manageable if you’re willing to make the adjustments needed to continue with your healthy fitness habits.
3. Get Enough Sunlight
The winter months can feel dreary, and much of that has to do with the lack of sunlight accompanying the winter season. Do your best to get outside when the sun is out to ensure that your vitamin D levels are up to speed.
A deficiency in vitamin D can contribute to seasonal depression and other mental health concerns. An adequate amount of vitamin D is great for the mind and the body. If you do find it challenging to stay mentally strong during the winter, invest in a sun box to get a dose of light that mimics sunshine whenever you need it.
Supplementing with vitamin D may also be appropriate if you are beginning to feel that your levels are low. Always consult with your doctor before starting a new supplement routine, but certainly set an appointment with your primary care doctor if you have a hunch that you’re deficient. You may need lab testing done first to rule out underlying causes and determine if a particular supplement is right for you.
The Bottom Line
Staying healthy during the winter months is about taking active measures to make winter work for you. Changing up how you exercise, eating warm foods, supplementing strategically, and getting enough sunlight are critical ways to stay in good health during the colder months of the year. Now, get to it!
