How You Can Stay Slim This Winter

Curled up in a quilt with chai and munchies is the perfect start to the long winter months. Gajar ka halwa, buttery paratha, shorter days, rich food. Who cares for how that perfect fitting t-shirt summer will find me in?

If you do, this might help you still be friends with that perfect clothing as winter says its goodbyes leaving us woefully plump.

On a winter day, we feel like curling up the sofa with a plate of hot pakoras and munchies, which, we can easily overeat without realising the fact.  That’s why it is important to eat sensibly during winter to prevent weight gain.  Skipping our exercise and our salads can lead to weight gain. By sticking to our healthy diet and exercise routine all year round, we’ll be much healthier in the long run.

The chilly season is the time for recurrent colds and flu and it is imperative to choose foods that boosts immunity. A healthy immune system can even minimize a cold’s duration. One way to boost the immune system is to maintain a good vitamin C status. Foods rich in the antioxidants vitamin C and beta-carotene, such as citrus fruit, cabbage, broccoli, pumpkin, sweet potato, and spinach, have immune-boosting power.

Including adequate amounts of probiotics or friendly flora is valuable in restoring levels of these healthy bacteria in our body to protect us from other infection. Consumption of green tea is yet another way of improving immunity. The catechins in green tea help to combat viruses.

It is very important to track what we eat and how much we eat. As mentioned earlier, overeating is a tendency in the winter months, and that can impact our immune system too. Research has shown that very low-calorie or very high-calorie diets can decrease our immune function. In addition, very high-fat diets can adversely affect our immune function and impact rates of infection and illness. I encourage a moderate fat intake and the incorporation of healthy fats [monounsaturated and polyunsaturated]. It may also be beneficial to incorporate a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement and to eat from all food groups to maintain a healthy diet and boost immune function.

Stay hydrated. When the temperature is down and the thirst decreases, it is easy to forget to drink water. We still need to aim for about two litres/day of water during winter as it is essential for our body to function.

 Good sleep(seven hours for an adult) also helps keep the body’s immune system healthy and fight off colds. My advice is to avoid alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes as these substances can affect the quality of sleep. Regular, moderate exercise, relaxation techniques and establishing a regular sleep routine may help to promote improved sleep.

Getting a health coach can help you stay aligned to your goal weight and exercise. Get the GrowFit app on Google Play or App Store and get the help you need at your finger tips.

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