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November 22, 2022 By Priyanka Mangla 3 Comments

8 Diet and Lifestyle Tips For The Winter Season

lifestyle tips winter

By now, we are all experiencing the cool winter breeze. While the weather is quite pleasant, it also causes several issues like dry and itchy skin, cold and cough, etc. To help you stay healthy during this season, we’ve got some effective diet and lifestyle tips that will keep these issues at bay.

Diet & Lifestyle Tips for a Healthier You

  1. Healthy Diet: Sir Robert McCarrison, one of the best known nutritionists says, “The right kind of food is the most important single factor in the promotion of health; and the wrong kind of food is the most important single factor in the promotion of disease.” There is an elaborate healing mechanism within the body, but it can perform its function only if it is abundantly supplied with all the essential nutritional factors. There are certain dishes which are winter specific in our country. We all relish them and besides being delicious, they serve a special purpose to keep us warm. Let’s start with our favorite, Gajar ka halwa which we all love. It is winter specific because we get the best seasonal carrots during this time. Next comes sarson ka saag. The saag is not just a flavoursome package but also a whole bunch of nutrition. Then we have gond ka ladoo (made from gum resin). This contains nuts and seeds too. It will keep you super warm. We have our own snack this time with nuts and jaggery chikki. A chikki a day is sure to keep the winter chills away! While we enjoy these, let’s not forget portion size. 
  2. Regular exercise: will keep you warm with a good circulation of blood. During winter, due to contraction of muscles to preserve energy, which is a natural phenomenon, many elderly folks suffer from joint pains and stiffness. To avoid that, it is best to continue doing light exercises. One can start off with a brisk walk for 15-20 minutes. People with a heart ailment or high blood pressure should avoid going out very early in the morning because of low oxygen levels. 
  3. Water: We tend to forget drinking water in winters as we don’t feel thirsty. But you know, water is the carrier of nutrients in our body and helps in detoxification. So make sure you load up on at least 2-3liters of water a day.
  4. Hygiene: Next comes the hygiene! Regular bathing is essential to keep the skin healthy and nourished. Wash your hands after coming back from somewhere, before cooking or eating food.
  5. Skin: Most of us suffer from dry, cracked skin during winter and we get tired applying lotions and oils throughout the day. I have a very useful tip for you to avoid this. Apply coconut oil or any other moisturizer immediately after bathing as during this time your skin is moist enough to absorb the oil and you will feel the softness throughout the day. You can also try these simple winter skincare tips: https://goqii.com/blog/8-simple-and-effective-winter-skincare-tips/ 
  6. Sleep: Good, restful, quality sleep helps in boosting our immunity by repairing the wear and tear of the body and mind. For an adult, 6-9 hours of sleep is required and for the aged ones, 5-7 hours. 
  7. Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency is on a rise in Indians despite the fact that we are blessed with the sunshine throughout the year. People prefer to stay indoors. Vitamin D not only keeps the bones healthy but also regulates our mood. You would have heard about Seasonal Affective Disorder, more prevalent in the western countries as they are devoid of sunlight. So, what are you waiting for? Go and get some sunshine! 
  8. Clothing: Wear warm, woollen clothing to protect yourself from the cold. 

And that’s it! These lifestyle tips are simple to follow and will keep you warm during this cold season. We hope this article helps you. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below! For more winter tips, check out Healthy Reads or speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

#BeTheForce 

January 14, 2020 By Vandana Juneja 6 Comments

Remedies For Leg Pain During Winter

leg pain during winterAs winter sets in, there are many health issues that some people face, and one of them is feeling immense stiffness and soreness in the legs leading to being less active. Is it normal to feel these aches and pain? or is it a serious health concern? Let’s find out the reason for leg pain during winter. 

Why do we feel pain and stiffness in Winter?

According to various studies, the cold causes your muscles to lose heat and contract, this makes you feel tight especially around the joints, and eventually you tend to lose range of motion and your nerves can also be easily pinched.

Another theory says a drop in barometric pressure in winters, cause the tendons, muscles and surrounding tissues to expand. Because of the confined space within the body, this can cause pain, especially in joints affected by arthritis.

In general, during winters, we limit our movement due to the cold weather, don’t exercise much, and keep ourselves wrapped up in blankets to stay warm, eat calorie dense food and put on a few extra kilos! All these factors also attribute to increased sensation of pain and stiffness in the legs.

Whatever the reason, it is a fact that many people have “flare ups” or aggravated symptoms of aches and pains in their body especially the lower limbs. Though you may not take it as a serious health concern, one should work towards preventing and dealing with it, so that the aches and pain do not aggravate and restrict your mobility in winters.

Tips to Reduce Leg Pain During Winter

1. Keep Yourself Warm with Proper Clothing
Use cotton, wool or fleece long-sleeved clothing since these materials work the best at maintaining body heat. Wear slim-fitting clothes for your underlayer, so that you don’t look bulky and can easily move your limbs. Don’t forget to wear your woollen cap, gloves, scarf and overcoat (if really cold); with a warm pair of socks and shoes while going out for a walk or even for an outing. Long woollen socks are advised to keep your legs warm. There are woollen thermals available that cover your legs from mid thigh to ankle and are very comfortable. Keeping your muscles warm is important to feel good and comfortable. The right kind of shoe will prevent any kind of injury from a fall or slip.

2. Stay Active
It is important to stay active and exercise your joints and muscles to reduce pain and stiffness during winters. Exercise increases blood circulation, boosts production of your body’s synovial fluid, which lubricates your joints and makes movement easy and comfortable. Plus, a good workout releases your body’s natural feel-good compounds (happy hormones: endorphins, dopamine and serotonin), resulting in reduced perception of pain and boosting your mood and overall sense of well-being. Walking and stationary cycling are good low-impact options to improve blood flow and leg strength. Just remember to warm-up a bit first and skip high-impact exercises if they bother your joints.

Some exercises you should be doing at regular intervals are:

  • Ankle Circles: This exercise is great to warm the muscles in the lower legs before starting a full exercise routine. Ankle circles also increase joint flexibility. The technique can easily be performed while sitting or standing and holding a chair or railing for support.
  • Leg Raises While Sitting: This exercise will improve your quadriceps strength and can be easily done while watching T.V. or sitting with friends/ family. Sit with your thighs well placed on a chair, back touching the backrest and then raise your foot up till it is in line with the thigh. Repeat both sides, 10 times each, twice a day.
  • Calf Raises: By strengthening the calf muscles, you can comfortably climb up and down stairs or walk on elevated terrain. Use a chair for support, and stand on a large book or small stool. Rise up on the toes and hold for five seconds, then lower, repeat five to ten times. Drop the heels to the floor to stretch the calves. Hold for five seconds and relax.
  • Standing Leg Raises: This exercise strengthens the muscles in the lower back, buttocks, hips, and thighs. Stand sideways behind a chair while holding the chair back for support. Lift the outer leg to the side while keeping it straight from the hip to the heel. Keeping the back straightened, hold for five seconds, and lower. With the same leg, stand straight and move the leg back while keeping it straightened. Hold for five seconds and relax. Repeat the process with the other leg. Perform 10 repetitions with each leg, then repeat.
  • Knee Ups: High Knees are a cardio-intensive exercise performed at a fast pace. It engages your core, strengthens all the muscles in your legs, gets your heart rate up and improves momentum, coordination and flexibility. Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Lift up your left knee to your chest. Switch to lift your right knee to your chest. Continue the movement, alternating legs and moving at a sprinting or walking pace for 4-5 minutes.

Similarly there are many other exercises that you can do at home to avoid leg pain during winter, depending upon your current physical health. For instance, squats/wall squats, straight leg raises, prone leg raises, lunges, etc.

3. Add Anti-Inflammatory Components to your Daily Diet
It is important to include anti-inflammatory foods in your daily diet, to reduce inflammation, pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles. You can include superfoods such as Ginger, Turmeric, Chilly Peppers, Mint and Virgin Olive Oil. Choose colourful foods like blueberries, blackberries, cherries, spinach, kale and broccoli. Opt for Salmon, Tuna, Sardines, nuts and seeds. Avoid processed foods, excess sugar and salt; high intake of alcohol.

4. Get Enough Vitamin D
During winter, Vitamin D levels naturally dip as we get less exposure to sunlight. Low levels of Vitamin D increase sensitivity to pain. Vitamin D-rich foods such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, cheese and egg yolks are important since Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium from food, which is another important mineral for bone health that can help reduce pain. Get your levels checked and ask your doctor about supplements if your levels are low.

5. Hydrate Well
We tend to drink less water during winter, leading to dehydration and even the slightest of dehydration can cause increased sensitivity to pain. Drink at least 2-2.5 litres of water daily. You can have lukewarm water if not comfortable with water at room temperature.

6. Treat Yourself to a Massage
Massaging the legs increases the blood and lymphatic circulation, relaxes and normalises the soft tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments), which releases nerves and deeper connective tissues; hence reducing spasm in the muscles and overall pain sensation. There are many essential oils that you can use to massage gently on your muscles as they have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, like lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil. Other commonly used oils for massage include – coconut oil, sesame oil, mustard oil, almond oil and olive oil.

The mentioned tips, should keep the leg pain during winter away! So leave the quilts and start moving! Eat right, hydrate well, stay active, enjoy and level up this beautiful winter weather! But if your symptoms aggravate, despite all precautions, do consult your doctor.

For more winter tips, tune in to GOQii Play. Do you have a special remedy you use for aches and pains during winter? Share them with us in the comments below.

#BeTheForce 

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