When winter hits, cold and sneezes abound. There are things you can do to guard against winter illnesses though. A few little changes to what you eat could make a huge difference to your winter health.
First off, stock up on garlic and use it in your meals on a regular basis. Garlic is a natural antibiotic with antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. This makes garlic an amazing immune system booster. An added bonus is that it tastes great, but if you’re concerned about garlic breath, then you can also get garlic as an odourless supplement.
Ginger is another ingredient which it’s worth stocking up on. Fresh root ginger relieves muscle aches, calms coughs and respiratory troubles, reduces fever, and can soothe upset stomachs. Ginger is also great when it’s cold because it heats you up from the inside! Ginger tea is a good way of getting more fresh ginger in your diet, as is adding it to curries, making gingerbread, or creating your own gingerbread lattes!
Eating plenty of vitamin D is also a must when winter hits. Vitamin D plays a vital role in keeping our immune system healthy, but it’s also important for our mental health as low levels of vitamin D have been linked to depression and seasonal affective disorder.
In the summer we produce lots of vitamin D as our skin is exposed to the sun which triggers the production of vitamin D. In the winter this doesn’t happen as much so a top-up is very helpful. Foods rich in vitamin D include eggs, oily fish like salmon, and cheese.
