5 winter health hacks to stay on top your game
Feeling like healthy summer meals are a distant memory now the cold weather has kicked in? It’s way too easy to get all couch potato and let good health habits slip during the winter months. Check out our 5 simple foodie tips to keep you on track, healthy and happy when temperature drops.
Make time for tea
Staying hydrated in winter is just as important as summer, but it’s a lot harder to remember when you’re not sweating buckets. Plus, a cold glass of ice water doesn’t sound amazing when it’s cold and wet outside.
Enter tea…and we don’t mean just English tea; it’s time to broaden your horizons. Here are a few delish options that will warm you up, keep you healthy and hydrated too.
Ginger and turmeric tea >> immune boosting superhero
Ginger is anti-inflammatory and preventative for flu and colds while turmeric is anti-bacterial and has anti-viral properties
Sir in 1 tsp of powdered ginger and 1 tsp of powdered turmeric to 2-3 cups of boiling water. Turn the burner off and let the tea sit for 10 -15 minutes. Squeeze in the juice of a lemon and sip away!
Liquorice tea >> not just naturally sweet, but healthy too
Liquorice tea is a cold and flu fighter, especially known for treating upper respiratory problems. Feel the winter sniffles coming on? Knock them out with a mug of liquorice tea.
Pop 1 teaspoon of dried liquorice root per cup of boiling water and let the tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Strain the root and drink.
Soups
Salads and smoothies are a much more attractive option in summer. In winter, it’s all about hot food but it’s oh.so.easy to reach for those cheesy, carb heavy meals that rate high on the comfort food factor but low on the healthy one. The answer? Hearty winter soups give you that warm, cosy feeling while keeping you healthy.
Not all soups are created equal though. The healthy choice is to opt for broth-based soups that contain a mix of veggies and protein, save the creamy, cheesy soup options for a treat.
Think soups like chicken and veggies or lentils. A quality broth is packed with nutrition while the protein of the chicken or lentils will keep you feeling full for longer. Fresh or homemade soup is always the optimal choice; canned and packet mix soups can be chock full of salt and msg.
Get friendly (really friendly) with garlic
In winter, add garlic to everything. We’re not kidding. Everything!! Garlic really is one of the world’s most humble superfoods and the most important to have around during winter. Garlic has T-lymphocytes and macrophages; two sulfur-containing compounds that boost the immune system. Garlic also helps in controlling blood pressure, sweeping heavy metal toxins from the body, reducing cholesterol and optimising gut health. In the cold weather, garlic is one of your best natural bets against steering clear of colds and a run down immune system
Adding garlic to slow-cooked meats is a tasty way of boosting immunity and flavour…and who doesn’t love a bubbling slow-cooked stew when the temperature outside dives.
Other simple ways to include garlic? Add it to mashed sweet potatoes, pasta sauce, soups, broths and roast veggies. Some hardcore garlic fans even mash it with avocado and spread it on toast; pretty sure that will keep colds and people away.
Flavour your water
Like tea, warm water with the addition of mint and lemon makes a comforting hydrating drink for cool days.
Lemons are a good source of vitamin C and drinking fresh lemon juice with warm water, first thing in the morning will help rehydrate your body and flush out the digestive system. Turn up the immunity power on basic lemon water by adding mint which is a common remedy for flu symptoms.
The menthol in mint contains a decongestant property and has a calming effect on an achy body. When adding mint, make sure to let the brew steep longer than you would when just using lemon.
Beat the winter sads..with food
When the days are shorter, darker and colder we don’t get as much sunlight as the warmer months and moods can begin to dip. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants, especially beta-carotene and vitamins C and E can help squash feelings of winter melancholy.
You can dose up on the happy vibes of by eating a lot of dark leafy greens and brightly coloured foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits. Plenty of quality sleep and exercise will also help boost the mood-lifting benefits of eating well through the colder months.
What winter food tips help keep you healthy during the cooler months?
Gemma
Ps – We think shepards pie is maybe the most unbeatable winter dish out there. Check out our healthy Shepherd’s Pie 3 Way Mash.
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