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Winter woe? For a healthier and happier season, give our tips a go

Published: 13th November 2020

For some people, winter forecasts dread, for others it’s a time to get cosy, embrace all that the season has to offer and crank up the crumble and hearty stew making operation.

Despite the gloom of a seemingly endless run of shorter days and cold, wet weather, there’s usually cheer to be found in flinging ourselves in the festive spirit.

Normally, there’s hardly any time at all to feel down in the dumps in the run up to Christmas.

And come the new year, it’s a time to set those inspiring fitness goals and make exciting plans for the coming months.

But the pandemic has undoubtably put a rather different spin on things this year.

The prospect of enduring more lockdowns, a ‘Covid Christmas’ and the uncertainty that lies ahead is bound to affect our outlook.

However, one thing we can be sure of, with a positive attitude and determination, not only can we make the best of it, we can make some real life-changing transformations too.

In fact, there’s never been more motivation to do all we can to take better care of our health and wellbeing.

After all, necessity is the mother of invention!

With the firm belief we really can emerge fitter, healthier, happier and recharged come the spring, as always, Active Tameside is here to help you achieve it.

 

Better health this winter and beyond

While we’re all cautiously eyeing up this winter with a different slant, there are always little things we can do to prepare and care for ourselves better to help fend off ailments such as colds and flu and keep our moods buoyed.

These tips may focus on the basics, but they really are fundamental to helping us through the frosty few months ahead.

 

 

Bowl of porridge and fruit

 

 

Girl doing stretching exercises in the park

 

 

A vitamin vital to our health and wellbeing

A lot of us have been stuck indoors much more since the dawn of the pandemic and that’s certainly set to continue to be an issue in the current climate.

Being out and about is good for our wellbeing and also vital when it comes to that all essential good health element, vitamin D.

Not just great for keeping bones, teeth and muscles strong, vitamin D is believed to have a real impact on our immunity, helping us fight off infections and viruses.6

Inadequate levels of vitamin D are also thought to be linked to mental health conditions such as low mood and depression.7

Being overweight puts people at risk of deficiency as vitamin D can be absorbed into fat beneath the skin meaning it may not be available for use elsewhere in the body.7

As many as one in five adults and one in six children across the UK are said to have levels which are too low.6

With sunlight the best natural source7, we have to find other ways to keep it topped up during these sun-starved winter months – although it’s still hugely important to get outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible.

Vitamin D is found in foods such as oily fish – salmon, sardines, mackerel – red meat, and eggs fortified cereals, most fat spreads and some plant-based milk alternatives.7

It’s usually only found in small amounts in food so you may also need to take supplements to boost your levels.7

 

Getting through it – together

Although the next few months will be more of a marathon than a 5k, we’re focussing on helping our Tameside community to cross the spring finishing line stronger than ever.

According to a BBC article on those who’ve already lived through a winter lockdown elsewhere in the world, it’s about mindset, discovering new things to love about life, making the most of what’s available and being kinder to ourselves and each other.

So, let’s take this time to re-energise and reflect.

While we may have less to work with, let’s strive to achieve more, focus on what’s important and find positivity in the face of adversity.

Throughout the months ahead we’ll build on the fantastic support we’ve seen since our safely phased reopening began – over 150,000 bookings since the end of July!

And thanks to the huge response we saw during the first lockdown, we’ll continue to motivate and inspire your home-based health and fitness across our social media channels, offering tips and advice, live classes, quizzes and a host of activities to help you live you best life during these challenging times.

 

Our very best wishes for an active, healthy and happy winter.

The Active Tameside Team

 

References:
1 https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/beat-the-cold/keeping-warm
2 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/keep-warm-keep-well/
3 https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/beat-the-cold/keeping-warm
4 https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-guidelines-covid-19-isolation
5 https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/sleep-better/
6 https://www.heartuk.org.uk/low-cholesterol-foods/vitamin-d
7 http://wlmht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Vitamin-D-leaflet-A5-8pp.pdf
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