HOLIDAYS AND WINTER NUTRITION
Hello friends,
We hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving shared with family and friends. Was your turkey from Green Ridge Acres? We’d love to know how you liked it. Let us know!
Winter is coming on fast and so is Christmas. Don’t forget the reason for the season.
As the days get colder and the wind is brisker, you may be battling a cold or, worse yet, the flu. Did you know that your diet can make a world of difference when cold season comes? Here are a few tips for staying healthy in the winter and for all those crazy holiday family gatherings.
WINTER NUTRITION GUIDE: 4 FOOLPROOF STEPS
1.Eat high-quality carbs
Listen to your cravings - there is a reason for them! In the winter, with fewer sunny hours, your stored serotonin (the "feel-good" brain chemical) starts to decline. Your cravings for carbohydrate-loaded comfort foods are your body's cries for more serotonin. But be careful when choosing carbohydrates to boost serotonin! Opt for nutritious whole grains and choose high-quality carbs such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and winter squashes.
2.Love seasonal produce
Winter produce may not be as exciting and colorful as summer berries, but there are still many healthy choices available. Work seasonal produce such as pomegranates, cranberries, citrus fruits, purple grapes, and orange root vegetables into your meals. You'll not only add color to your plate, you'll pack in some serious nutrition punch. Check out our produce selection at our produce stand.
3.Short daytime? Consider Vitamin D supplements
If you live in the northern hemisphere or wear sunscreen all the time, consider taking Vitamin D supplements especially in the winter months. Numerous studies have shown that oral intake of 1000 IU Vitamin D can reduce the risk of colon, breast, and ovarian cancers by as much as 50 percent. Vitamin D can be found in fortified dairy products, fatty fish, and egg yolks. But reaching the recommended level through food alone is rather difficult. Therefore, the Canadian Cancer Society recommends that all adults take 1000 IU of Vitamin D supplements every day during the fall and winter seasons. Be sure to speak to your doctor before starting any supplementation and check your existing multi-vitamins for the amount of Vitamin D you are currently supplementing.
4.Eat to fight flu bugs
Despite numerous claims you may have heard, no diet remedy or supplement has scientifically proven effective at preventing cold and flu, except Vitamin D. A 2007 study found that participants taking daily Vitamin D supplements were 3 times less likely to report cold and flu symptoms. What about Vitamin C? Studies have shown that 1,000 mg of Vitamin C supplements may make your cold milder and shorten it by half a day. In addition, there's a promising perk for yogurt lovers! A German study found that probiotics (as found in yogurt with active culture) may shorten your cold episode by almost two days. So keep on eating those "friendly" bugs!
What are your favorite tips for staying healthy in the winter? We’d love to hear from you! Stop by our Camp Hill store or send us a message!
Tips republished from Health Castle