Wellness Tuesday Tips: Winter Warmth
Do you find balancing holiday festivities with enough rest to fend off seasonal viruses a challenge? Keeping the spirit/body well-nourished during the winter can be a tricky endeavor. We love a big night out with friends, strap on those sparkly heels, toast with a few artisan cocktails, and then end up staying up wayyyy too late.
Busy, busy with shopping, seeing live music, art shows, garden walks, skiing, whew...until that day you wake up with a clogged head, sinuses and throat screaming or, worse yet, an achy-breaky flu bug. No, thank you very much!
The body needs extra rest this time of year. Make a cozy evening with a loved one (human or animal) and put on a pot of lamb stew, topped with braised kale or chard to nourish your insides. No meat for you? I love butternut or acorn squash soup with canned coconut milk(tetra-pak container beverage kind is not made for cooking), onion, curry spices, and a dash of nutmeg.
Blood vessels constrict in winter due to the frosty air, leaving the skin pale and dry, ligaments and muscles tight. Our attraction to and the abundance of red foods are natural this time of year. Crimson pears, pomegranates, red cabbage, cherries, and beets all open up capillaries, returning that rosy glow back into chapped cheeks. Turmeric and saffron are fabulous spices to add to most any savory dish; add a glass of spiced mulled wine, and everything is lovely. Do peppermint candy canes count? You bet they do!
One of my favorite immune items you can find in the Wellness Dept is Rapid Immune Boost by Herb Pharm-a classic, certified organic formula with Echinacea, Goldenseal, Osha, Ginger, and Elderberry. It’s a miracle tincture, right when you need it most for cold or flu.
Fireside Honey Tonic from Mickelberry Gardens is another on my go-to seasonal list. It will soothe a sore throat and help to break up congestion with apple cider vinegar along with horseradish, onion, garlic, chili pepper, and honey. Add to a mug of hot water and sip throughout the day. When too much mucus is causing your head to throb, add an inch of grated ginger, and an extra dash of cayenne will help rid your body of the green invaders.
As an antidote for all the holiday rushing, I’ve adopted a Hygge lifestyle.
Hygge is Danish for spending the colder months at home, cuddled up with friends, surrounded by softness, sipping warm drinks, and strolling through the hood in search of the most magical light display.
Check this link for a deeper dive into Hygge living
https://www.moneycrashers.com/hygge-embrace-frugal-danish-lifestyle/
This year might be the perfect time to grab a book, put on some soothing tunes, or your latest Netflix binge. Oh, and don’t forget a bag or two of Boom-Chica-Pop, my current secret pleasure. Now, I realize choosing the flavor is the hardest part here. Just close your eyes and make a wish, cuz really, ya can’t go wrong.
Pure winter wellness and comfort, not to mention a good dose of joy!
We are all friends here,
Cathy