Winter always seems to surprise us all with just how cold it really gets in Melbourne. Coming from sunny beachside Newcastle, I’ve been here 6 years now and I am still not used to it! Its colder, darker, things get a bit harder and we get sicker.
In winter our vitality, our emotional and physical resilience, can weaken. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. Here are some hot tips that have helped me adapt to Melbourne winter:
- Eat seasonal, warming foods – From a Naturopathic perspective cold foods just don’t digest very well; especially in winter. They can slow everything down and contribute to reduced digestion, absorption, bloating, wind and reduced immune function. Its best to avoid cold, raw foods in winter (this includes juices and smoothies) and replace them with warm, nourishing soups, stews and roasts. Slow cookers will become part of your family.
- Key foods to include – ginger, turmeric, pepper, cinnamon, chilli, onion, garlic, colourful cooked vegies.
- Key foods to avoid – juices, salads, smoothies, dairy, cold foods/drinks, cold breakfasts.
- Organic seasonal winter vegies – potatoes, pumpkin, turnips, spinach, kale, sweet potato, beetroot. These are fairly cheap as they will be in season and local. Great for soups and stews.
- Drinking water – this can be difficult in winter when we sweat less and feel less thirsty. I try to keep filling up my ginger tea to make sure I’m drinking enough water but not cooling myself down. Without drinking enough water, mucus can be thicker and more sticky, meaning more susceptibility to coughs, colds and sinusitis.
- Honey, lemon & ginger tea – in a thermos or tea pot, grate a table spoon of ginger and pour in boiled water. Add a teaspoon of honey and squeeze the juice of half a lemon. Keep refilling throughout the day. Warming and delicious!
- Keep active – for me, this can be one of the hardest things in winter. But it’s even more important to stay active in the cold. When we move less our muscles can get sore, backs ache and our circulation slows down. We need to keep moving in order to loosen everything up and help our blood and lymphatic circulation flow smoothly, to avoid stagnation and infection. Exercise also helps us to feel great; boosting your mood and body temperature.
- Try hot yoga or get a membership at a gym with a sauna or steam room. Check out what deals are around. Gyms, yoga studios and other fitness training often have very cheap specials for their first month. It’s a great way to try things and see what you like.
- Or try indoor sports teams, such as soccer, squash, volleyball, netball. It is great to have a regular weekly commitment that is social and active to get the blood flowing.
- Staying social – Our lifestyles can really change in winter. In summer we are outside, the days are longer and the sun is shining. Then all of a sudden its freezing, wet and dark. We often tend to stay at home those first few weeks of winter but try not to get stuck there.
- Find cafes or pubs with nice open fires.
- Organise with friends to have pot luck dinners.
- If you find yourself watching TV series often, invite friends over to watch them with you.
- Make the most of the sunny days, go out for a walk, day trip or just visit a sunny café. For me, sunlight can totally change how I feel.
Winter is a great time to turn inwards, rest and nourish your body and mind. But it also can stir up some challenges. Trent’s hot tips – eat warming foods, drink water, keep active and stay social. Sharing food together can be a wonderful way to spend winter.
I offer ‘acute consultations’ for when you are sick with coughs, colds and flus. Pop in and get some herbal medicines and nutritional supplements to get that immune system working at its best.
By Trent Wrightson, Naturopath.
