Volume 51 Issue 7 - July 2013 : Social

A Change of season not only means a change in  eating habits but your skin regime as well. Surviving winter is about being prepared all round. By putting in practice the following steps one can have a better chance of getting through winter without colds, weight gain or dry skin.

FOOD: During winter, not only do our energy and fat intake increases but we also develop the desire to eat more food. Eating more food can contribute to one gaining weight and an unhealthy body. For instance, nutritious vegetables and hearty meals such as beans, soup, dumplings with stew, potatoes, phaletshe and morogo are very good for warming up the body but they also increase body weight. But eating small portions of these meals throughout the day - four to five hours apart, plus a snack, say a piece of fruit in between - can help prevent weight gain.

Why not start your day with a bowl of oats as they do not carry lots of calories and revive yourself with Rooibos tea which comes in different flavours such as green tea, honey and berry. Rooibos does not have any negative side effects or caffeine. It   rejuvenates, anytime of the day. Fresh fruits like oranges and naartjies can also help beat colds and flu.

Exercise: Having a healthy and fit body does not necessarily mean going to the gym.

Doing home chores, using the stairs instead of escalators, parking your car a distance from where you are going and investing in an aerobics DVD for exercising at home  also help burn off kilojoules. Financially, it can also reduce costs as there is no subscription fee required for keeping fit. According to Canadian Researchers, people who trained three times a week significantly increased their body`s ability to fight viral and bacterial infections.

Skincare: Skin can get very dry in winter resulting in flaking and cracking. As lovely as a hot bath is to warm you up, it can also dry out your skin. If you feel you desperately need to soak in the tub, make sure you add something moisturising like bath oils. To help seal in some moisture in the body, apply lotion or petroleum jelly to the body or oil straight after getting out of water, while the skin is still wet. Pay attention to elbows, knees, heels and feet as these areas dry out the quickest.

Warm clothing: Clothing should help to retain heat that the body produces. It should also transport excess moisture and heat away from the skin. An efficient way of dressing in a cold climate is to use layers. Bold colours in clothing and boots can give your wardrobe a needed boost this winter. Accessories are a great way to transform your look and add some colour and sparkle. A must have for this winter is: boots, leggings, scarves, hats, sweaters and comfortable pyjamas. Knitwear, cardigans and jackets would also be perfect for complementing outfits. For more information on what to wear this winter log on to http://thefashiontag.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/what-to-wear-to-work-2013/

Finally do not forget to listen and watch the news for weather update. ENDS

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