Ten tips for a healthy winter

 

 

What do you think when someone mention winter? Winter is the best season to improve immunity. During this time you feel hungrier, body metabolism work better during winter, and according to Ayurveda there is spike in digestive activities when weather gets cold, your digestive system become more active during this season. So this is the time to nourish your body, and fill it with all that nutrition. Keep healthy this winter by including plenty of natural and seasonal foods in your diet.

This is the season when the markets are full with all sorts of vegetables, tubers,  roots, and leafy greens which are loaded with natural goodness, that is why we eagerly wait for winters for our favourite seasonal dishes like gajar ka halwa cooked with red carrots, mooli ke parathas,etc. In India every region has their own specials winter dishes such as Gujarat’s undhiyo, Punjab’s sarson ka saag with makki ki roti, others are matar pulao, beet root kebab, mooli kofte, rasam etc.

‘Winter is the best time to enjoy foods, fibre and flavour’. The natural foods available during winter are rich in vitamins, minerals and good source of protein. So eating healthy is the only remedy to fight cold, fever, dry skin, and cracked heels, so let’s discuss some very important winter season food and health regime to keep your-self healthy this winter.

1. Vegetables:

Immunity boosting foods are those that are fresh, organic, easy to digest, pure and wholesome. These include fresh vegetables and fruits. Green vegetables like spinach, fenugreek( methi), mustard(sarson), as we as other vegetables like green beans, carrot, sweet potatoes, peas and many more are rich in vitamins and anti-oxidant which build immunity. Red vegetables like beetroot, carrots are fu of beta carotene and vitamins A and E.

2. Spices:

Used asafoetida, fenugreek, ajwain, mustard and suva seeds this winter freely. These all seeds are a valuable remedy for cold and cough for winter season. It also stimulates appetite and digestion, and also increased blood circulation. Methi seeds are very beneficial for bone and joints pain which aggravate during winter. Green fresh turmeric of golden and light yellow variety is natural antibiotic, which helps to build immunity.  For best result boil this in water and drink that water. You can make green tea by using these spices, which is best option to beat winter cold and cough, green tea is also power packed with anti-oxidant which boost your immunity.

3. Cook food with natural ghee and oils:

According to Ayurveda, your digestive system strengthens with fire or ‘Agni’. And large part of your immune system is boosted by digestive processes. This ‘Agni’ which is very important becomes lethargic in winter season. Eating desi ghee and natural oils hep to arouse this ‘Agni’, and keep the digestive system functioning well. As result it can boost your immune system and prevent you from diseases. Having one spoon of desi ghee everyday can help you achieve many benefits like good skin, lean body, and warmth during winter.

4. Dry fruits and nuts:

To keep your body worm during winter days, add nuts like almonds, walnuts, pista, and dry coconut with jaggery. Eat dry fruits like fig, raisins, and apricots with milk.

5. Tulsi and ginger:

Nothing beat winter chill like hot cup of tulsi and ginger tea. Tulsi has anti-bacteria, anti-viral and anti-biotic properties that helps in keeping body healthy. You can also add this super herb not only in tea but also in your salads and soups. According to Ayurveda ginger is the best remedy for sore throat.

6. Whole grains cereals and pulses:

Bajara (pear millet), jowar (millet), makkai (maize) are some of common types of whole grain cereals that can be including in your diet as roti. Apart from this, til ki chikki and til gud ki roti are widely eaten in our country during winter season.

7. Say yes to fitness:

To avoid weight gain start right eating at right time, winter increased hunger due to loss of energy to keep body warm. Most of inactivity in winter also responsible for weight increase in winter. Exercise like stretching, walking, will give strength your stamina. Exercise will also keep you good in digestion of food. Yoga work out will keep you relaxing. Regular exercise will not only help you to stay fit, but also boost your immunity. A daily exercise regime helps you to control weight, relive stress and make the immune system stronger.  It burns your calories and makes you hungry and revitalises your body’s metabolism.

8. Hygiene:

Hand hygiene is very important for heath, by regular washing your hands; you can keep the bacteria and viruses off from your hands, mouth, and eyes. Winter is the season when there are highly chances to catch flu and viral infections, so physical hygiene will help you to stay away from it.

9. Soothe your skin:

Dry, uncomfortable skin is so common during the cold season. Get 30 minutes sun exposure daily in the winter month supplement with vitamin D3. Vitamin D supports a healthy immune system and cut your chances of getting flu by 50%.  To protect your skin, limit showers or baths to no more than 10 minutes and use warm (not hot) water. Apply good quality of moisturiser on your body twice a day. You can also apply coconut oil or sarson oil or any local natural oil according to your region that will help you to prevent from ‘winter itch’.

10. Drink:

We tend to drink less water in winter but don’t forget that your body needs hydration from the inside out, A little warm water with lemon can be very refreshing and hydrating at the same time.

These ten tips given here are some of basic things that you can follow to ensure that you stay healthy and unaffected by the common health issues of winter.

Stay fit stays healthy.