Winter Health Tips: 3 Expert Tips To Stay Fit And Healthy This Season

It is sweater weather again, and with cold temperatures filling the air, winters are back, giving us much needed respite from the monsoons. While we all enjoy this welcome change, the sudden chilliness makes us more susceptible to catching a cold and cough. Therefore, it is important to look out for the six most important seasonal flu symptoms-- breathing difficulty, body ache, cough, blocked nose, headache and muscular stiffness and manage them early on.

Tips to stay warm and healthy this winter, as per Ayurveda 

Stay warm and hydrated: While we bring out our woolens to keep warm and gear up for the chilly season, it is also important to keep warm on the inside. With the air being cold, we often find ourselves drinking less water than normal and this can cause dehydration leading to chapped lips, dry cough and even fatigue. To ensure our body is not missing out on essential fluids, drinking warm water infused with soothing elements like cinnamon, honey and ginger are beneficial as they are enriched with natural anti-viral properties that help that fights illness. Drinking haldi doodh or kadha, will also help soothe the system and relieve any congestion in the throat.

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Practice steam inhalation: This is an effective age-old home-remedy helps build better respiratory health by easing out the cough and cold symptoms that is quite common during winters. Steam Inhalation also gives your body the much-needed warmth it misses while surrounded with chill winds in the atmosphere. While one can make this more effective by adding these traditional kitchen ingredients like Pudina (Mint) leaves and Ajwain (Caraway seeds) that helps in aiding dry cough and sore throat. You can also add one to two teaspoons of a medicated rub, which contains natural ingredients like Pudina, Ajwain, Kapoor & Nilgiri in a bowl of hot water (not boiling). This convenient method will soothe cough and cold symptoms. These rubs are easily available at any chemist shop and are safe to use for adults and kids aged six years and above. It is advisable that one reads the label before using and if symptoms persist, please consult your doctor.

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Eat a well-balanced diet: Winter foods are plenty. From fruits to green leafy vegetables, give your body the right nutrition it need for a healthy immune system. Amla, ginger, carrots, methi and palak are perfect for this time of year. Incorporate a mix of soups and warm salads into your diet as well to help provide your body with essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals to contribute to your overall wellbeing.

(Dr Kunal Manek, Ayurveda Consultant, and Panchakarma Physician)

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