Hot dry air in your lungs. Chapped skin on your face and hands. Static-cling hair. Feeling thirsty all the time. Catching every cold that comes around.
Does this ring any bells yet? Yup, it’s winter and your body is saying, “Yech! Tis the season to feel icky!” Lucky for you winter does not have to be a time of sickness or discomfort. By just taking a few simple steps and slightly adjusting your daily routine you can feel much better this winter, starting today. Here are four simple tips to keep you fit, vital, and healthy all winter long.
** Drink Up! **
Water, that is. Drink lots of water. Wintertime means hot dry air that parches your lungs and chaps your skin. If drinking straight water doesn’t sound good to you, try adding a little salt or lime to you water. Both salt and lime improve the taste of water, and a slice of lime tends to remove any chlorine that might be in your water. You can also try brewing some tea or just drinking warm water with honey and lemon. The more water you drink the less you’ll need to apply lotion and lip balm. Plus, water helps your body flush out anything unwanted, like toxins and viruses that might make you sick.
** Enzymes to the Rescue **
Thanksgiving has already come and gone but we still predict lots of holiday meals (and sweets) in your near future. Just think of all the office parties, neighborhood potlucks, and Christmas parties yet to come. Can you spell indigestion? If so, you’ll need enzymes to the rescue. Enzymes help you digest your food, especially if you overeat or gorge on junk food. Take 2 enzymes before each meal and take 2 more after the meal if you feel overstuffed. You can also take enzymes anytime you have digestive discomfort.
** Defend Yourself with Probiotics **
Do you cringe every time your hear someone cough or sneeze? Afraid you might catch the cold or the flu from the person sitting next to you? Then defend your health by adding probiotics to your daily regimen. The probiotics acidophilus and bifidus are the “friendly” bacteria that live in your gut and are your first line of defense against colds and flus. Rather than being antibiotics, which is what you take AFTER you have a cold, probiotics are what you take before you catch a cold. Probiotics keep you healthy rather than curing you after you are already sick. It sounds like that old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” doesn’t it?
** Stretch **
Did you know that one of the major causes of tiredness is muscle tension and fatigue? It’s true. Tight muscles that haven’t been stretched out can make you feel tired before you even begin your day. At the end of your day, those same tight muscles can make a long day seem endless. So what can you do to prevent muscle fatigue? Stretch your body! Doing just 15-20 minutes of light yoga or stretching in the morning can drastically improve the oxygenation in your body as well as your overall physical stamina. Stretching is a simple investment in your health that will pay off immediately.
These four tips are very simple yet highly effective, and most of them don’t take more than a few minutes to implement in your daily routine. Enjoy!
