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Five Healthy Living Tips To Help You Get Through Winter

As winter approaches, the days feel long and dark. It’s fair to say that sometimes during the chillier months, we don’t feel at our best.

Here at The Skinny Food Co we know that healthy living isn’t just limited to what you eat and drink, it’s also got a lot to do with your general wellness and what you do in day to day life.

As the days get shorter and mornings get colder, if you’re not taking care of yourself the winter months can really take their toll. Here are five top tips to help you get through those winter months feeling your best!

1. Take Vitamin Supplements
We all need a bit of a boost in the winter, and you can give your body a helping hand by taking some supplements. Did you know that the strength of the sun in the UK over the winter months is not sufficient to produce enough Vitamin D? You might want to take a Vitamin D supplement over the winter due to the lack of natural light. Vitamin D also helps your body to absorb other important vitamins such as vitamin C which is good to help you battle winter flu symptoms.

2. Take some time to relax
If you find the winter blues are hitting you hard and you’re experiencing stress or anxiety, it is seriously important to manage it in a healthy way. Whether you enjoy taking a walk, listening to a podcast, reading a great book or soaking in the bath during your downtime, it is essential that you allow yourself this time to wind down. Even if you just take five or ten minutes each morning before you go about your day to gather your thoughts, it may make the world of difference!

3. Use a sauna or steam room
Steam rooms and saunas are great for alleviating the feelings of stress. A 2015 study on Finnish men and women found that the more saunas people took per week the longer they lived. The heat can help tense muscles to relax as well as the high temperatures working up a sweat, which is a great way to detoxifying your body and skin. And the best part? All you have to do is sit back, and relax.

4. Get into a consistent sleeping pattern
Many of us find ourselves feeling tired or lethargic during the winter, this is largely due to lack of sunlight, which can disrupt our sleep and waking cycles. Because of this, it’s really important to try and stick to a sleep cycle in winter. If you’re well rested, you’ll be better equipped and have more energy to face even the chilliest of winter days.

If you have trouble sleeping these tips can help:
- Avoid caffeine in the afternoon
- Get outdoors in the natural daylight as much as possible
- Ban all technology from the bedroom

5. Have a hearty breakfast  
When we think of winter breakfasts we picture seasonal porridges, pancake stacks and freshly baked banana bread. Not only are these options a delicious way to kick-start a bleak winter morning, but it will also ensure you are boosting your intake of fibre and starchy foods to help you through the day.

Eating these types of food will give you a seriously needed energy boost to combat that sluggish feeling and leave you feeling fuller for longer. Whilst we’re on the topic of nutrition, it’s also important to stick to your five a day when it comes to fruit and veg, no matter how tempting it may be to fix those afternoon slumps with a sugar kick! Instead of opting for high sugar foods, try some of our sugar-free alternatives.

Here’s to a healthier, happier winter.

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