My health and wellness, ultimately, is up to me. It’s not up to my doctor or the government or a bottle of pills. It can’t depend on my circumstances or my job or the season (of life or weather). While external circumstances can certainly have an impact on my overall wellness, they can’t be the deciding factor, and short of a sudden serious illness, hidden cancer or an accident, the normal day-to-day of my health and wellbeing is on me. Everyone else is off the hook. It’s common knowledge that more of us succumb to illness during winter than during the warmer months and the reasons for this are manifold. But so are the solutions. In my winter wellness toolbox this year will be:
Sleep
Sufficient, restoring sleep is a crucial component of maintaining wellness. For most adults this will be between 7 and 9 hours per night.
Fresh fruit and veg
Aiming for 7 servings per day (5 veg, 2 fruit) and because we know that most of our food is now heavily depleted of nutrients, I’ll need to make sure, where possible, the bulk of this produce is local, homegrown or organic.
NingXia
NingXia is my one of my favourite things! It’s a powerful liquid supplement that uses the entire (super) fruit of the goji berry, so it contains all the benefits of the skin, the stem and the pulp. It’s the perfect replacement for coffee, alcohol and sugary drinks and an excellent boost for my winter wellness routine. HERE is how to get your hands on some NingXia.
Supplements
Because our foods are so heavily depleted of nutrients, it’s crucial to supplement with high quality vitamins and minerals. There are thousands of options available, but the kids take Vitamin C daily and I take garlic capsules and Young Living’s Inner Defense, both of which are designed to support the immune system and promote a healthy respiratory system. When things start to go south, we also add in elderberry syrup. If you feel your body is lacking vital nutrients, it can be really helpful to chat with a nutritionist so you can ensure you’re taking what your body actually needs.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed (often in capsule form) to promote healthy digestion, maintain immune system health, support the natural detoxification processes of the gastrointestinal system and aid in the natural cleansing process of the gut. Young Living’s Life 9 is a high-potency probiotic that combines calcium in the form of calcium carbonate with 17 billion live cultures from 9 beneficial bacteria strains. I take one each night after dinner.
Wellness roller
Time and again, essential oils have been found to have a powerful impact on the body’s ability to heal and recover and it’s important to use them regularly, not just when we start to feel under the weather. My wellness roller is 10 drops Thieves, 10 drops Frankincense, 10 drops Lemon topped with carrier oil in a 10 mL roller bottle and applied twice daily to bottom of feet, spine and chest. Thieves, Frankincense and Lemon essential oils are all in a Young Living starter bundle. You can find out more about that HERE.
Exercise
Regular and especially outside. Exercise and spending time in nature have been shown to improve immune function so I’m aiming for at least 2 hours a day outside and/or moving my body, whether that’s gardening, tending animals, hanging out with the kids or a dedicated gym session.
What are your winter wellness non-negotiables?
