10 Ways to stay healthy this Winter

With winter well and truly upon us, and a greater incidence of colds and flus about, its important to look after ourselves to boost our immunity and get in tune with the natural rhythm of the season.

Winter is the season of stillness and conservation. It’s a period of hibernation and our time to rest, slow down and revitalize our reserves. Winter is a great time of year to reflect on our health, replenish our energy, conserve our strength and heal on a deeper level. The “downtime” that winter provides gives us an opportunity to slow down, check in and take account as to how our lifestyle supports or detracts from our health, and to recharge our battery.

Here are 10 easy pointers on how you can support and promote your own health this time of year:

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• Dry skin brushing can activate your lymphatic circulation, which helps to stimulate immunity and clear out toxic debris. Do this on a daily basis and not only keep bugs at bay, but see you skin start to glow! See my earlier blog post A simple way to boost your immunity for more information.

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• Eat immune boosting foods, such as cruciferous vegetables (e.g. broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower), mushrooms (e.g. shitake, wood ear, reishi), root vegetables (e.g. sweet potato, carrot, radish), wholegrains (e.g. oats, brown rice, quinoa, millet) and berries (e.g. cranberries, blueberries, raspberries). See our delicious trail mix recipe (pictured - right).

• Avoid the consumption excessively cold foods such as ice cream and iced beverages. If possible, drink liquids at room temperature. Too many colds foods, especially during the colder months, can disrupt your digestion

• Take supplements to support your health. Everyone knows that Vitamin C is good for warding off colds and flus, but did you know probiotics can help restore vitally important intestinal immunity, and that royal jelly and bee propolis can stimulate immune function to keep you healthy? A good multivitamin is also great 'health insurance' to ensure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals you need to keep you healthy.

• Avoid refined sugar, as it directly damages the immune system. There are plenty of options for wholesome sweet treats readily available at your local supermarket or healthfood shop – or better yet, make your own sweet treats at home using brown rice syrup, stevia or coconut sugar. Make sure to avoid artificial sweeteners like the plague!!

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• Give yourself an acupressure treatment. Regular stimulation of the following points will enhance your immunity, strengthen your vital organs and strengthen your body's resistance to stress:

Press LI-10 ("Arm Three Miles" for one minute on each arm. Find this point by measuring three finger widths below the elbow crease, on a line between the outer corner of the elbow and the tip of the index finger.

Press ST-36 ("Leg Three Miles", pictured right) for five minutes on each leg. Find this point four fingerwidths below the knee cap, just lateral to the tibia (shin bone).

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• Exercise – regular movement is essential in maintaining immune function. During the winter months it is best to participate in gentle exercises, such as yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, swimming, walking, and other low impact sports. Save the extreme exertion activities for the spring and summer months. The benefits of regular activity extend to supporting general wellness, stress reduction and mental clarity in addition to boosting your immunity.

• Sleep. Early to bed, early to rise, makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise. Go to bed early and if possible, wake up after the sun appears in the morning. Extra sleep will also benefit you if feel as though you are coming down with something. If you do become ill, naps may help you recover faster.

 

•  Take herbs that support immune function. Chinese herbs can be customised to your individual needs to either boost your immunity or help you recover from a cold/flu, and should be prescribed by a qualified herbalist (such as myself!). Traditional Chinese herbs used to boost immunity include astragalus, ginseng, andrographis, reishi and shitake mushrooms. These have been used for thousands of years by acupuncturists to keep people healthy and strong.

 

• Come in for acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture works extremely well when you have a cold or flu, and also as a tune up to stimulate the healing capacity of your body. If you begin to get the sniffles, body chills, or feel under the weather, make an appointment to see us - I may be able to help!

Keep well and happy this Winter! May you enjoy all the blessings of the season.