June has rolled around (way too quickly!), which means a change of season …. yes WINTER is here (for some)!
We can be forgiven for thinking that Winter hasn’t arrived yet, as it was beach weather all weekend …. clear blue sky, glorious sunshine and magic in the water (I think the mercury hit 26 degrees!). Magnificent! :-)
Living in sunny Queensland, Winter tends to be mild and we can still be outdoors, hit the beach and get in the water. How fortunate and blessed we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world!
For those who may not be quite so fortunate and may need to contend with the biting, cold, harsh wind; the shards of sleet, rain or snow; the grey sky, chilling temperatures and the nasty winter lurgies; I feel for you. I grew up in Melbourne, Victoria and I absolutely dreaded Winter! Being an active person who loved the beach and water, Winter wasn’t my favourite season (nor was Autum or Spring usually .... and Summer could go either way!).
Avoiding the Winter lurgies can be challenging, particularly when in air conditioned environments or around people who are unwell and recovering. The good news is we can do our best to keep them at bay!
A few ideas that work well for me are:
Garlic, garlic and more garlic! This healing herb has been used throughout time for its medicinal qualities …. antibacterial, antiviral and may help in treating throat irritations and respiratory infections. Add garlic to a dish, include in your juice blend, or mix in a marinade, soup or stir fry. As a last resort, I have been known to eat whole garlic cloves! A quick tip .... parsley is a life saver if you aren't fond of garlic breath! :-)
I keep a tub of Vicks VapoRub handy! If I start to feel a little tickle in my throat, I dig out the bed socks, rub a layer of Vicks on the bottom of my feet, then pull on the socks for the night. This usually works a treat! If you’re into aromatherapy, there are many oil blends to choose from. To help get a good night's sleep, I make a mix for the vaporizer in my bedroom. :-)
If you like sipping a warm drink of an evening, swap your cuppa, coffee or hot chocky for a detox mix …. a concoction of hot water, dash of apple cidar vinegar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, a teaspoon of raw organic honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Love this before bed! :-)
Fresh herbs and spices can be great remedies and may have healing properties as well. Do your research and go with personal taste. My “regulars” are garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, coriander (also know as cilantro), cinnamon, mint, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary, turmeric. I tend to find Farmer’s markets are terrific for fresh herbs, honey, seasonal fruit and vegies, opting for organic where possible.
Adequate sleep and water are key and a “must have” in your armory! Your body needs to be at its optimum to keep you healthy, well and firing on all cylinders .… even more so in Winter! Be sure to get enough pillow time (7-9 hours if possible) and the appropriate amount of water for you, allowing for air conditioning and drier weather conditions. I tend to get extra ZZZZ’s in Winter (mmmmm snuggling under the covers) and I usually guzzle down around 3-4 litres of H2O a day!
Teresa Cutter (aka the Healthy Chef) is a personal favourite! Teresa has terrific healthy tips, recipes and products .... I love scrolling through the website looking for new ideas! You might like to check out Teresa’s Top 10 Natural Immune Boosting Foods + Recipes at
http://www.thehealthychef.com/2014/05/boost-your-immunity-the-healthy-chef-top-10-natural-immune-boosting-foods-recipes/
I’d love to know your tips for surviving Winter, so please feel welcome to share your thoughts, comments and ideas around what works well for you.
Whether you love Winter or not, avoiding the lurgies and staying FIT and healthy will keep you on track to be ready and pumped to spring into Spring and keep living a life you love! :-)
Karen Low is the owner of Coach Me Now! To learn more, please contact Karen on 0409 343 336.
Follow us on Facebook for inspirational quotes and links, events, workshops, networking opportunities and resources.
Living in sunny Queensland, Winter tends to be mild and we can still be outdoors, hit the beach and get in the water. How fortunate and blessed we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world!
For those who may not be quite so fortunate and may need to contend with the biting, cold, harsh wind; the shards of sleet, rain or snow; the grey sky, chilling temperatures and the nasty winter lurgies; I feel for you. I grew up in Melbourne, Victoria and I absolutely dreaded Winter! Being an active person who loved the beach and water, Winter wasn’t my favourite season (nor was Autum or Spring usually .... and Summer could go either way!).
Avoiding the Winter lurgies can be challenging, particularly when in air conditioned environments or around people who are unwell and recovering. The good news is we can do our best to keep them at bay!
A few ideas that work well for me are:
Garlic, garlic and more garlic! This healing herb has been used throughout time for its medicinal qualities …. antibacterial, antiviral and may help in treating throat irritations and respiratory infections. Add garlic to a dish, include in your juice blend, or mix in a marinade, soup or stir fry. As a last resort, I have been known to eat whole garlic cloves! A quick tip .... parsley is a life saver if you aren't fond of garlic breath! :-)
I keep a tub of Vicks VapoRub handy! If I start to feel a little tickle in my throat, I dig out the bed socks, rub a layer of Vicks on the bottom of my feet, then pull on the socks for the night. This usually works a treat! If you’re into aromatherapy, there are many oil blends to choose from. To help get a good night's sleep, I make a mix for the vaporizer in my bedroom. :-)
If you like sipping a warm drink of an evening, swap your cuppa, coffee or hot chocky for a detox mix …. a concoction of hot water, dash of apple cidar vinegar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, a teaspoon of raw organic honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Love this before bed! :-)
Fresh herbs and spices can be great remedies and may have healing properties as well. Do your research and go with personal taste. My “regulars” are garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, coriander (also know as cilantro), cinnamon, mint, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary, turmeric. I tend to find Farmer’s markets are terrific for fresh herbs, honey, seasonal fruit and vegies, opting for organic where possible.
Adequate sleep and water are key and a “must have” in your armory! Your body needs to be at its optimum to keep you healthy, well and firing on all cylinders .… even more so in Winter! Be sure to get enough pillow time (7-9 hours if possible) and the appropriate amount of water for you, allowing for air conditioning and drier weather conditions. I tend to get extra ZZZZ’s in Winter (mmmmm snuggling under the covers) and I usually guzzle down around 3-4 litres of H2O a day!
Teresa Cutter (aka the Healthy Chef) is a personal favourite! Teresa has terrific healthy tips, recipes and products .... I love scrolling through the website looking for new ideas! You might like to check out Teresa’s Top 10 Natural Immune Boosting Foods + Recipes at
http://www.thehealthychef.com/2014/05/boost-your-immunity-the-healthy-chef-top-10-natural-immune-boosting-foods-recipes/
I’d love to know your tips for surviving Winter, so please feel welcome to share your thoughts, comments and ideas around what works well for you.
Whether you love Winter or not, avoiding the lurgies and staying FIT and healthy will keep you on track to be ready and pumped to spring into Spring and keep living a life you love! :-)
Karen Low is the owner of Coach Me Now! To learn more, please contact Karen on 0409 343 336.
Follow us on Facebook for inspirational quotes and links, events, workshops, networking opportunities and resources.
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