Hey guys! So in this blog post and video I’m going to be talking about how to prepare your body for winter in collaboration with Alive! Multivitamins; I really hope you find it useful!
- Tip 1 – Keep your diet varied & exciting
My number one tip to get winter ready is to make sure that you have a varied diet by adding new foods or food groups to dishes that you usually wouldn’t, for example adding pulses or beans to curries and chillies, or adding a sprinkling of chopped nuts or pomegranate seeds to salads. This adds a boost of nutrition in the form of fibre, healthy fats, protein and vitamins too.
Keeping your immune system in good order is essential to staying healthy and helping you to recover if you catch a cough or cold. Foods including beans, dried fruit, nuts, whole-grains and green leafy vegetables contain nutrients such as vitamin A, Vitamin C and zinc which are essential for your immune system.
- Tip 2 – Take a Vitamin D supplement
Between the months of October and April, everyone in the UK should consider taking a supplement containing at least 10 mcg of vitamin D. Vitamin D is required for a healthy immune system which is crucial if you’re prone to catching colds. Vitamin D is also needed for healthy bones and teeth as it helps the body to absorb calcium.
These Alive! Vitamin D3 soft jells contain 25 mcg of vitamin D as well as calcium, phosphorus and a unique dried blend of 26 whole fruits and vegetables. They’re suitable for vegetarians and taste delicious too.
- Tip 3 – Add more Vitamin D rich foods to your diet
Given that around 20% of adults have low vitamin D levels, it’s important to get as much of this essential vitamin into your diet as possible. As well as taking a daily supplement between October and April, you should aim to eat foods that are rich in Vitamin D, for example oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, red meat, egg yolks and fortified breakfast cereals.
You may not be aware that a lack of vitamin D can contribute to a poor immune system as well as tiredness, and it’s essential for normal bones too.
- Tip 4 – Consider a probiotic
There’s good evidence to show that probiotics, otherwise known as live bacteria, support the immune system which needs to be fighting fit especially in the winter time.
Probiotics are found naturally in live-cultured yoghurt which makes an ideal snack, kefir (which is a fermented milk that you can use in porridge or smoothies), sauerkraut which you can add to salads, kombucha which is a delicious fermented tea and miso soup. These probiotics thrive best in a diet that is rich in fibre.
- Tip 5 – Invest in a slow-cooker
My number one kitchen essential in winter is a slow cooker. Slow cookers are a great way of saving time as well as money as you can easily cook cheaper cuts of meat as well as delicious seasonal vegetables.
A recent survey found that just 27% of adults are eating their 5 a day so slow cookers are also a great way of getting more vegetables in to your diet and because everything is cooked together too, the final dish is crammed with more nutrients.
Thank you so much for reading and watching guys and I really hope that you find these tips useful. See you soon!
*This video was filmed in collaboration with Alive!. All words are my own. Please read my disclaimer page for more information on brand collaborations. I filmed this video before my pregnancy bump was showing: All pregnant and breastfeeding ladies should take 10mcg of vitamin D daily (in addition to folic acid prior to conception and until the 12th week of pregnancy).
