As far as winter goes, we’re in the thick of things. The days are about twelve minutes long and the nights last over thirty years. The streets are icy. Our cars are dirty, and it’s just plain cold no matter where we travel. Christmas is over, and we still have to suffer winter for two more months before the first green blades of spring thrust hopefully through the sheet of ice that blankets the still earth. The short days, the lack of sunlight and the brutal cold and being trapped indoors all have the potential to affect our health negatively. Here are seven things you can do to protect yourself from the icy grasp of Old Man Winter.
1. Vitamin D
Without adequate exposure to sunlight, many of us won’t get the vitamin D we need. Vitamin D is vital for helping maintain healthy bones and bolstering the immune system. Additionally, vitamin D has been linked to seasonal affectiveness disorder, although it is unknown whether vitamin D deficiency causes SAD or vice versa. (or possibly a third thing).
2. Nitric Oxide
Did you know that our bodies produce nitric oxide when we stand in the sunlight? Nitric oxide is a signaling agent that widens blood vessels. This can lead to a drop in blood pressure. It also improves blood flow to the extremities, keeping those piggies warm even on the coldest nights.
3. Omega 3
Several recent studies on omega-3 fatty acids have found that they may be pivotal at staving off the winter blues. One study found that Omega-3 fatty acids may make it easier for the brain to produce serotonin, the warm-fuzzy-feeling chemical. A lack of serotonin may cause SAD sufferers to crave carbs because the carbs promote serontonin as well. So, in theory only, you might be able consume low-cal omega-3s to curb high-cal carb cravings during the winter.
Product, AIMega
4. Vitamin C
People tend to congregate indoors during the winter, flooding the room with their germs. One well-timed, germ-laden sneeze may be able to lay out 60% of a room’s population, according to a rough guesstimate that I made just now. So it’s ever important to bolster your immune system. We all know that nothing helps the immune system like vitamin C, so get some before get-togethers.
Products, Peak Endurance, BarleyLife Xtra
5. Antioxidants
Antioxidants are a stalwart immune-boosting companion to vitamin C. They keep your immune system strong by protecting your body from free radical damage.
Product,Proancynol 2000
6. Probiotics
There is some good research out there that indicates that a healthy gut environment also enhances the immune system. Additionally, researchers found a link between increased immune cells levels and activity and the consumption of probiotics.
Products, FloraFood
7. BarleyLife
During the winter, produce might be scarce or very expensive. No doubt about it, BarleyLife is nutritionally dense. Two spoonfuls of BarleyLife contain a per-gram battery of vitamins and minerals unmatched by most other super foods. It’s the simple and inexpensive way of getting your greens during the gray time of the year.
Product, BarleyLife
The AIM Companies 