For Canadians, a bulk of the calendar year is outfitted in boots, warming garb, and a chilly disposition. We know the cold can be an adjustment, but given the length of time you’ll spend enduring it, embracing your inner winter warrior is the only chance you have at enjoying a happy and healthy period. If you’re still not sure how you’ll get through the storm, we’ve rounded up a list of activities to keep in your back pocket for your most satisfying snowy season yet.
Boost your immune system with seasonal produce
No matter the weather, eating seasonally is always in style. Though germination may seem to lag throughout the winter months, the cooler temps aren’t to blame. Did you know that it is limited exposure to sunlight and rainfall, and not the frigid forecast, which mostly affects the development of your favourite fruits and vegetables? Given the right autumn preparation, however, some vegetables thrive in the winter months! Try cabbage, which is high in infection -fighting sulfur, Brussels sprouts, which are rich in bone- building vitamin K, or winter squash, an excellent source of immune-boosting vitamin A! If you’re having trouble fitting cold- fighting nutrients into your diet, a supplement, like Jamieson Cold Fighter, is a good way to ensure you’re receiving all of the immune support you need to stay healthy this winter, and may help you stop those stuffy symptoms in their tracks.
Make a new warm drink
There are few things more satisfying than a warm drink on a cold winter day. The silver lining to any chilly afternoon, it’s no wonder it’s the subject of daydreams. While you could opt for a tea or cider, with health top of mind, why not take this opportunity to step it up a notch? Turmeric, the health industry’s spice du jour, is great for fighting inflammation, one of the precursors to various diseases. It’s complementary to foods and can also add a powerful boost to your beverage of choice. Interested in trying a little something “gold”? Here is our adaptation of an afternoon treat that will warm up even the coldest of days.
Golden Nectar
You’ll need:
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp of manuka honey
- ¼ tsp each of ground turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom
- Freshly ground black peppercorns to taste
- 1 cinnamon stick and star of anise for garnish and added flavour
- In a small pot, heat milk and honey.
- When your mixture has nearly reached a boil, remove from heat.
- Add spices. Whisk until blended. Strain if desired.
- Add pepper to taste. Stir final mixture with cinnamon stick. Drop in star of anise.
- Enjoy!
Stay warm!
In the winter months, conserving body heat is priority #1. Being underdressed and leaving exposed body parts to fight the wind chill leaves you vulnerable to cold, causing illness and contagion. Our blood helps us achieve this through thermoregulation – an evolutionary adaptation that humans use to maintain core temperature. But is one body part more important to shield than the other? One of the biggest myths is that your body only releases heat through the head, but the fact of the matter is, your body lets heat slip at every extremity! Be it your top or your toes, it’s important to bundle up.
Protip: Hydration is always at the forefront of good health! Throughout the winter, it’s important to stay hydrated, as water retains heat and is pivotal in keeping thermal levels stable.
Find a winter activity you LOVE and schedule lots of it
A good way to distract yourself from the cold is to find an activity you enjoy, schedule lots of it, and to up the fun factor, invite friends and family to join along! Not only will this help you overcome negative thinking, but it has the potential to have a significant impact on your emotional health. This can be as simple an activity as you please. It could be something nostalgic, like re-reading an old book, athletic, like hitting the slopes, or even delicious, like baking a (healthy) treat to share! If you’re looking to be a little more involved, you could use this time to give back by volunteering at a soup kitchen or an organization for mentorship. If you’d like to be outside, but aren’t one much for the cold, start simply with ice skating or even a brisk walk. Develop a taste for what you can handle and amplify your activity from there. After all, you never know what you’ll discover when the world becomes your oyster!
Sources:
- Harding, A. (2014, December). 7 Scientific Tips for Staying Warm. Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/49050-staying-warm-scientific-tips.html
- University of Michigan Medicine. (2017, March). Cold Exposure: Ways The Body Looses Heat. Retrieved from http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tw9037
- Dusek, S. (2007, November). The Science of Warmth. Retrieved from http://www.summitpost.org/the-science-of-warmth/359562
- University of Rochester Medical Center. (2018). Myths and Tips About Dressing for Winter. Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=696
- Organic Facts. (2017, December). 13 Amazing Benefits of Cabbage. Retrieved from https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-cabbage.html
- Foxmanab, E. F., Storera1, J. A., Fitzgeraldcd, M. E., Wasike2, B. R., Houf, L., Zhaof, H., and, A. M. (2014, June). Temperature-dependent innate defense against the common cold virus limits viral replication at warm temperature in mouse airway cells. Retrieved from http://www.pnas.org/content/112/3/827.full
