Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Healthly Habits: All you need to know to survive this winter

By Andrew Mitchell

When that northern gust threatens to sweep us off our feet, and when half our colleagues are on sick leave to the flu, we know it can only mean one thing: winter is approaching.

Winter comes with all sorts of unpleasant surprises, which tend to have a negative impact on your physical, as well as psychological wellbeing. In order to keep you healthy and happy this winter, we have combed the world for some of the best tips and brought them together. Everyone has a different approach on how to stay healthy, but just in case your local witch-doctor's remedy is faulty, let's look at this year's words of wisdom:

Your Nutritionist says: Carbs, carbs, carbs! Forget Atkins and all these low-carb diets - your body needs carbohydrates in order to produce the energy you need to keep warm in the winter. Of course, eat in moderation: the key to a healthy body is to eat quality food (whole foods, starch, veggies, and protein) in the right quantities.

Your GP says: Getting the flu jab is always a good idea. You can never be too careful when it comes to building up your body's defences, and nothing works better than modern medicine. Vitamin tablets in addition to your regular meals are also advisable - your body could do with some extra Zinc, Iron, and Vitamin C to boost your immune system during the winter time. Getting a few extra hours of rest is also highly beneficial - you won't believe the ways in which your body revives and restores itself during those times of rest. It great strengthens your defence mechanisms which will help you combat that head cold.

Your Osteopath says: Acupressure and acupuncture are well-used ancient practices which will enhance your sense of well being. They help spread and balance the energy within your body so you feel more centred and revitalised. A good deep-tissue massage can also achieve this sense of balance. By loosening up your stiff joints and sore muscles, a massage stimulates blood flow which enables you to feel fresh and more energetic. In order to treat external illness, we have to start by tackling the disease from within - only then can we treat the problem, not just the symptoms.

Your Psychologist says: Take a holiday. Go to the French Alps, or to Spain - any place that you might be able to find tranquillity, exercise, and plenty of sunlight. Believe it or not, but many people undergo seasonal depression due to the lack of sunlight in winter. Enjoy some fun in the sun this winter to prevent yourself from getting down in the dumps.

Now that you are armed with these expert perspectives on how to stay healthy, you are ready to face the challenges of winter head-on and, come spring, you'll resurface as being as strong as you did going in. - 14130

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