5 ways to prepare your body for winter. 
With only a month to go until it’s officially winter for many parts of the world, a lot my clients have been asking me ‘what are the best ways I can prepare my body for the winter months?’
Many are concerned about catching colds, coughs or even the flu. As the clocks change and the darker evenings are drawing in, some are concerned about their mental well-being too. The lack of sunlight can make us feel sluggish and low in mood. So this week, I have put together 5 easy ways you can prepare your body for winter.
1) Say hello to friendly bacteria
It’s known that about 80% of our immune system is located in our digestive system. So keeping a healthy gut is very important to keep a strong immune system. Probiotics are good bacteria that can be found in whole and fermented foods, such as raw sauerkraut, miso, yogurt, kefir, kimchi and microalgae, or in the form of supplements. If you take probiotics in supplement form, it’s best to choose a brand that offers different sources of bacteria. Some of my favourite probiotic brands are Opti-bac, Lamberts, Higher Nature and ReNew Life (one of the strongest probiotic brands on the market).
2) Start taking Vitamin D
We obtain vitamin D from certain foods, supplements and sun exposure. It helps our bodies absorb calcium, remodel our bones, improve our mood and enhance our immune system among a host of other amazing functions. Many of us living in the Northern Hemisphere are deficient in vitamin D as we don’t get enough sunshine. Eating vitamin D rich foods and supplementing are a good idea to help prevent deficiency and can have positive effects on Seasonal Affective Disorder. Taking Vitamin D during the winter has really helped me stave off colds, or keep them less severe if I do catch one. I recommend doubling the dose to 8000iu’s or more if you feel a cold coming on and to take vitamin K2 alongside for better absorption.
My favourite brand for vitamin D is Nature’s Answer Vitamin D3 drops which are suspended in olive oil. Just 2 drops a day gives you 4000iu’s of D3.
3) Swap your salads for soups
I noticed recently that a number of clients begin to complain of stomach aches, constipation or diarrhea as the weather turns colder. Often when I ask them about their diet I notice that they’re eating a lot of cold foods like salads, smoothies, cereal and iced drinks. When the weather gets chillier, think about nourishing your digestive system with warming foods to help improve blood flow and clear stagnant energy. This is the time of the harvest so think about eating butternut squash, sweet potato, pumpkin, lentils, carrots, meat broths etc. Make foods with warming herbs and spices that boost your immune system too. My favourites are ginger, garlic, cumin, tumeric and black pepper.
For breakfast I have switched to porridge oats cooked in water and oat milk (use quinoa if you prefer a gluten free option) sprinkled with cinnamon, nutmeg and some chia and sunflower seeds. I still drink green smoothies, but will often have them as a mid-morning or afternoon snack instead.
4) Sleep!
Winter is a time of hibernation and despite this, most of us don’t get enough sleep. Also many of us are not switching off before we retire to bed. If you have a habit of checking your emails, facebook and texts before you go to sleep, try to do this at least 1 hour before bedtime instead. New research suggests that the artificial light produced by your mobile phone or laptop disturbs your brain and fools it into staying awake. Sleep deprivation lowers your immune system as most of the repair and rejuvenation work for your body is done whilst you rest.
5) Try the homeopathic remedy Aconite
Aconite is an excellent remedy for a sudden illness such as aches, colds, coughs, sore throat, flu, chills and fever. Keep Aconite on hand for a quicker recovery after becoming ill following exposure to weather changes, such as very cold or very hot weather, exposure to dry winds or inclement weather. I often take a dose of Aconite in a 30c should I feel a tickly throat come on or get a sniffly nose. If I time it right and catch it early (not always easy!), the cold won’t usually progress and I’ll be feeling back to normal the next day.
If you do get a cold, cough, sore throat, flu, vomiting/diarrhea and would like to take something natural, then please contact me for an Acute Homeopathic consultation. More details can be found here.
Until next time, have a happy, healthy week!
Claire Zarb LCPH
t: +44 (0)7582 269569
e: claire@clairezarb.com
w: www.clairezarb.com
s: c.zarb
