The colder weather means our regular nutrition and exercise regime may need adapting to cope with the elements. Here, nutritionist and yoga teacher, Mays Al-Ali, of Healthy Mays, offers advice on how to transition into the colder weather.
Utilising her experience with Eastern practices combined with her knowledge of the modern world, Mays understands that our bodies react differently throughout the seasons and encourages nutrition clients to take extra care during this time.
She suggests:
- Stock up – on supplements, fresh local and organic produce and plenty of filtered water. Our bodies react different as the weather gets cooler so make sure to stay on top of seasonal bugs and viruses. Supplement with zinc, vitamin C and D to increase your mood and boost your immunity and include fibre-packed, potassium-rich produce (beets, apples and sweet potatoes) into your diet.
- Clear out – it’s not just spring that needs a good clean. Start the season as you mean to go on by clearing out your cupboards, your closet and your mind and allow yourself the opportunity to start fresh as the months go on.
- Breathe deep – your brain is at its best first thing in the morning, so try meditating as soon as you wake up. Breathe in deeply for four, hold for three and let go for six and repeat for as many times as you feel necessary. Just remember to do so with intention and presence with each breath, allowing the rib cage to expand and the chest to rise and fall.
- Sleep well – as summer fades, so does the sunlight, which can throw our body clocks out of whack. Try and keep the same routine you had throughout the previous season, even if the light is different. Go to bed at the same time each night, ideally around 10pm and try and get seven to eight hours sleep each night. Turn all electronic devices off at least two hours before bed and follow the same general routine each night to ease into a deep and meaningful sleep.
- Motivate yourself – autumn can be seen as a time of getting down to business and planning for the long winter months ahead, and this presents us with the perfect opportunity to reassess our life at work and at home and find the best ways to help us reach our goals. Focus on what you want and then set in place some small and clear steps on how to achieve it, in bite-sized manageable pieces.
