Winter is just around the corner, and while the holidays are definitely something to look forward to, the season could have a toll on your health if you’re not careful about hygiene, diet, and lifestyle. To help make this your best winter yet, here are twelve health hacks you can use.
Stay Active
Watching TV all day in bed can be very tempting, and while it’s absolutely fine to spend some free time in bed watching your favorite shows now and then, don’t make it your lifestyle. Staying physically active is very important. Exercise at least 30 minutes daily during winter; doing so has numerous health benefits.
Not only will you get all the normal benefits of exercise, but exercising in the winter has some extra benefits too. Working out in the cold will increase your endurance and burn more fat since your body has to work harder at lower temperatures. So whether you are shoveling snow, going for a walk, or hitting the ski hill, make sure to fit some activity into every day.
Sleep Regularly
Regular sleep is an important part of staying healthy any time of the year, but it’s especially important during the winters because of people’s aforementioned tendency to binge-watch well into the night. Sure, watching your favorite show at night while snuggled in your blankets sounds very appealing, but don’t do it regularly.
Getting enough sleep is a particularly vital part of staying fit during winter since most people report feeling extra tired when it gets cold. So you need your rest, around 8 hours of continuous daily sleep, especially since being well-rested is important for fighting seasonal allergies.
Wash Your Hands
When it’s cold outside, there is a tendency amongst most people to wash their hands less often because they feel discomfort from putting them under cold water or from having to take their gloves off. It’s understandably not the most comfortable feeling, but you have to do it or risk being exposed to infections.
Washing your hands alone could decisively prevent you from experiencing seasonal allergies. Regularly washing your hands prevents infections and keeps you safe. Ideally, you should wash before and after every meal. It sounds tedious, but it is one of the best health hacks you can do.
Eat Healthy
Snacking during the winter sounds like a lot of fun. Who doesn’t want to enjoy some fun winter treats like hot chocolate or fudge? But like all other things in life, you have to maintain a balance and avoid overconsumption of unhealthy foods, no matter how delicious they may be.
Resist the urge to snack regularly and make sure that the vast majority of your diet consists of healthy and nutritious foods such as lean meats, leafy vegetables, and healthy sources of fat like avocado, nuts, and fish. Having a balanced diet will let you stave off infections and keep you fit during winter.
Use a Vitamin D Supplement
One of the biggest health problems that most people experience during winter is vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is a pre-hormone that serves many vital functions in your body, and it is especially essential for motivation and mental health; and in its absence, many people experience strong feelings of depression, lethargy, and brain fog.
Taking a vitamin D supplement when it’s getting colder outside is a great idea since you aren’t getting as much sun exposure, the primary source of vitamin D. A dentures dentist in Charlotte also adds that vitamin D plays an important role in your dental health. It is essential in tooth remineralization as it helps in the effective absorption of calcium. Consult your physician and have them recommend a daily supplement for you to take so that your vitamin D needs are met.
Optimize Hydration
People tend to not drinking enough water during winter. Most people simply feel less thirst because their blood vessels constrict in order to prevent their blood from freely flowing to their limbs. Dehydration during the winters is especially common for this reason.
To avoid it, drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day even if you don’t feel thirsty. Drinking enough water will also help your immune system. Varying what you drink is one health hack that can help you drink more. For example, have a glass of orange juice with breakfast, then a glass of water, a mug of tea in the afternoon, and more water with your meals.
Use a Water Filter
You might have some difficulties in the quality of your water supply during winter season, perhaps there are increased impurities, or it just smells off. The best solution for this problem is to install a good water filter to ensure that your drinking water supply is safe and healthy all year round, but especially during the winter when unsafe water can be particularly dangerous. One simple and affordable option are water filter pitchers.
Maintain Indoor Air Quality
During winter, people naturally spend a lot more time indoors and keep their homes a lot more closed. Indoor air quality often suffers as a result. Not maintaining indoor air quality is a big reason why a lot of people fall sick.
Poor indoor air quality results in more pollutants and allergens being inside your home. The best way to improve it is to regularly replace your air filters, vacuum twice weekly, and spend a little bit of time outside to get fresh air.
Use Probiotics
Taking care of your gut health is also very important for staving off seasonal illnesses. Take probiotic supplements or consume probiotic foods during the winter because you will need the extra beneficial bacteria they provide you with for pushing back seasonal infections.
Some of the best probiotic foods that you could eat include dairy products like yogurt and certain vegetables. So, be sure to add these foods to your diet for their probiotic benefits. This easy health hack could make a big difference for your overall health at any time of year.
Pay Attention to Your Mental Health
Many people globally suffer from seasonal affective disorder. Symptoms include feelings of lethargy, fatigue, and depression. If you feel any of these symptoms, despite having an otherwise good lifestyle, contact a professional immediately.
Many people have a tendency to neglect their mental health during winters because they think seasonal depression is normal. Don’t fall for that sort of thinking; you should care for your mental health regardless of the time of the year.
Reduce Shower Time
Who doesn’t like a nice warm shower during winter? It’s one of the best ways to relax and feel warm, but ideally, you shouldn’t do it every day, and you shouldn’t do it for more than 10 minutes at a time.
Excessive showering is bad for your skin because it washes away natural oils that your body produces. Excessive showering can also harm your nails and cause them to peel. If you absolutely have to shower every day, make sure it’s quick.
Stay Warm
The number one hack for having a good winter is to make sure that you keep warm. This may sound like a no-brainer, but a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that they can just take the cold. For the sake of your health, don’t do that.
Wear warm clothing and sleep with at least one warm blanket during the night. If you reside in a particularly cold area, you’re also advised to wear gloves and woolen socks to keep both your hands and feet warm.
Winters can be a fun time, but it’s important to stay active and healthy during the cold. If you typically feel tired, sick, or depressed during the winter, implementing one or more of these twelve hacks could really make a difference.
What are your favourite health hacks for surviving the winter months?
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