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Stocking Your Winter Wellness Arsenal

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Stocking Your Winter Wellness Arsenal

This is your Wellness Wake Up Call with University of Illinois Extension.

Prioritizing self-care and assessing your needs is vital for a healthy winter season. Build your winter wellness arsenal with these 10 tips:

  1. Nutrient-Rich Diet: Focus on whole foods before relying on supplements. Nutrients in their natural form often work synergistically for better health.
  2. Vitamin Supplements: Consider vitamin D to counter reduced sunlight exposure, along with zinc, vitamin C, and echinacea to support immunity and mood.
  3. Regular Exercise: Stay active with indoor workouts, fitness classes, or outdoor activities like brisk walks or cross-country skiing. Exercise boosts your mood and immune system.
  4. Adequate Sleep: Stick to a consistent sleep schedule to strengthen your immune system. Foods rich in magnesium, vitamin D, and omega-3s can aid sleep quality.
  5. Hand Hygiene: Frequent handwashing is key during cold and flu season to reduce germ spread.
  6. Skin Care: Combat dryness with natural balms and oils, which retain moisture better than lotions.
  7. Relaxation: Make time for downtime amid holiday stress. Activities like reading, bathing, or hobbies can help you recharge.
  8. Hydration: Stay hydrated with water, herbal teas, or soups to combat dry winter air.
  9. Respiratory Health: Use a humidifier to prevent dryness and maintain comfortable air quality.
  10. Stay Prepared: Keep informed of weather updates and stock emergency kits for unexpected situations.

This week, identify 2 or 3 things you can implement to jump-start your winter wellness plan.

Thank you for listening! I hope you have a happy and healthy day ahead. This has been Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator for University of Illinois Extension.

Kristin Bogdonas believes that everyone deserves access to fresh, affordable food and is committed to helping people improve their health literacy. In this digital age it can be difficult to decipher what nutrition information is accurate and what is hype. Connecting people with factual information and evidenced-based programs will help people build the skills and attain the knowledge necessary for positive behavior change. Although nutrition is important for a long and healthy life, one should not overlook the other dimensions of health required for overall wellbeing; physical, mental, emotional, vocational, spiritual, environmental and social. Each dimension impacting the next.