Stay Warm From The Inside Out

Winter has a charm all its own, which doesn’t include cold fingers and toes! To stay warm this winter, start from the inside.

Feed yourself warmly

Start the day with a warm breakfast. Porridge is a wonderful winter warmer, nutritious (especially when it’s made with milk), delicious (sliced banana, brown sugar, cinnamon and a dash of cream!) and warming. 

Soup at lunchtime and rich casseroles in the evening will help keep your internal thermostat up.

Keep up your fluids even when you aren’t hot and sweaty. Herbal tea, miso soup and warm water with lemon will keep you hydrated and warm without overdosing on caffeine. Drinking plenty will help flush out viruses and keep your digestive system working efficiently.

Keep moving

Even when it is cold outside, a brisk walk will elevate your metabolism, keep all the winter food from sitting on your hips and warm you up from the inside out.

You will feel more energised and benefit from a dose of fresh air as well.

Keep a heat source nearby

If you are sitting for any length of time, the chill is bound to seep into your bones. Fill a hot water bottle or warm a wheat bag and tuck it under your toes or find a sunny spot in the house to read.

Don’t let the air get cold

It is better and more economical to maintain a regular temperature in your home, rather than letting it get really cold and trying to heat it up. Oil heaters on low keep the chill off a room overnight. Remember it takes much more energy and will never be as efficient to heat damp air – keep the air in your home as dry as possible; use a dehumidifier or home ventilation system, and use extraction fans in the bathroom or near a drier.

Layer up

Wear several layers of clothing in the winter and make sure that at least one of those layers is wool or a thermal fabric. Keep a jacket near the door, so even if you have to pop out to the letterbox, your body stays warm. Don’t forget the fingers and toes – cold hands and feet make you feel miserable!