Originally published November 29 2008
How to Stay Healthy During the Winter
by Sheryl Walters
(NaturalNews) Wintertime is generally regarded as the time of year when you are destined to feel under the weather. Yet with some careful preparation and care, you can help prevent the winter lows.
According to the world health organisation, the best immunization is a good diet so that you can stay balanced through the cold winter months. Pre-prepared, packaged foods that are filled with caffeine, sugar, artificial flavours and preservatives fail to give the body any nutrients. Furthermore, because the system has to defend against the toxins in these foods, they actually deplete the body of its recourses.
Fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and protein give us the necessary fuel to feel well and vibrant. Freshly prepared foods have the highest nutritional content, especially if they are organic.
It is best to eat a variety of different fruits and vegetables so that all of the necessary nutrients are available. Remember that every colour offers different vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This is why most experts recommend eating a rainbow diet. Orange, red, yellow, and dark green fruits and vegetables are all nourishing in different ways. Smoothies, salads and soups are great ways to pack a diversity of colourful plant foods into our bodies, and you can discover which combinations you enjoy most.
Eat as much seasonal produce as possible. In the winter indulge in foods such as carrots, parsnips, kale, cranberries and yams. Next summer you can eat more foods like blueberries, watermelon, yellow peppers, and tomatoes. This isn't to say that you can't eat any fruit or vegetable all year long, but eating what is in season means eating fresher food.
Use medicinal ingredients as an easy and cost effective way to both prevent illness and keep your vitality. Onion, garlic, horseradish, rosemary, oregano, thyme, sage, pepper, and basil all strengthen the immune system and keep us healthy. They can all be added to our favourite foods to enhance the flavour and provide extra nutrition.
Super foods such as goji berries, bee pollen and camu camu are particularly rich in nutrients that boost the immune system. Add them to smoothies or sprinkle them onto cereal to add flavor and prevent illness.
Ensure that you get plenty of exercise this winter. Getting the body moving will warm you up and boost your immune system at the same time. Making sure that you warm up enough to sweat a couple of times a week will detoxify the body of unwanted invaders.
Make sure you get as much sunlight in the winter as possible, and if you live in a place where there is not a lot of sun, then supplementing with vitamin D is essential for good health during the dark months.
About the author
Sheryl is a kinesiologist, nutritionist and holistic practitioner.
Her website www.younglivingguide.com provides the latest research on preventing disease, looking naturally gorgeous, and feeling emotionally and physically fabulous. You can also find some of the most powerful super foods on the planet including raw chocolate, purple corn, and many others.
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