6 Tips for Staying Healthy and Fit in UAE in Winter

With winter already in full swing in the United Arab Emirates, staying healthy and fit in UAE in extreme weather conditions gets harder. The sudden changes in temperature from high to low and the freezing conditions at night can make anyone more prone to catching the flu, cold, or cough.

If you have a compromised immune system, your chance of getting sick more than once throughout the season may be higher as well.

Keeping a healthy and fit body, therefore, is more important during the cold season. Being prepared to deal with the common winter ailments is a must, as well. This means stocking up on the most trusted cough medicine in the UAE and other over-the-counter medications that will help you overcome any possible sickness you may develop at this time.

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Maintaining Your Wellness During the Cold Season

To stay healthy and fit in UAE inside and out throughout the coldest months, follow these tips:

1. Eat More Immune-Boosting Foods
2. Add More Herbs and Spices to Your Meal
3. Continue Exercising
4. Stay Hydrated
5. Take Care of Your Skin
6. Get Plenty of Quality Sleep

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1. Eat more Immune-Boosting Foods

Having a strong immune system is essential for maintaining a healthy body in the winter and throughout the entire year. One of the easiest ways to do this is to include more nutrient-packed and antioxidant-rich foods in your diet.

Some of the immune-boosting foods you have to eat more during winter are:

Fruits
Berries, oranges, watermelons, pomegranates, and apples are examples of fruits that can help you keep a healthy immune system. These foods are rich in vitamins A and C, bioflavonoids, and other nutrients vital for the proper functioning of the various parts of the body.

Brightly-coloured vegetables
Bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, beetroots, and sweet potatoes are some of the veggies with vibrant colours that are packed with nutrients. These include vitamin C and antioxidants, substances that strengthen the body’s immune system.

Fatty fish
Tuna, mackerel, and salmon should be part of your diet during winter, as well. These proteins are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients that regulate the body’s immunity and protect it from damage from infections.

Lean meat
Low-fat, protein-packed foods, such as chicken, turkey, and sirloin are rich in zinc, a nutrient that increases the production of white blood cells and T-cells. These are substances in the body that fight infection. To make sure you are eating something lean, take off the skin and fat from the protein.

Nuts
Almonds, cashews, walnuts, and Brazilian nuts contain a variety of vitamins and minerals that boost the immune system. These include vitamin E, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and other antioxidants.

Mushrooms
Shitake, enoki, Portobello, reishi, and oyster mushrooms are potent foods that can keep colds, flu, and other infections at bay. This is because these foods have exceptional antiviral and antibacterial effects.

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2. Add more Herbs and Spices to Your Meals

Your immune system needs all the help it can get to stay strong and protect you from sickness. Aside from eating fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and fatty fish, add more spices and herbs to your meals and diet.
Spices such as cloves, ginger, and pepper have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Andrographis, echinacea and elderberry are some examples of herbs that support a healthy immune system.

These spices and herbs are also good for people who have asthma and bronchitis, which are often easily aggravated during the cold season. They can supplement medications for chesty cough relief.

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3. Continue Exercising

Although working out may be the last thing on your mind, especially during the extremely chilly days, you have to get regular exercise to maintain a healthy body.

Exercising enables the immune cells to circulate throughout your body. This allows them to seek and destroy infections faster. As a result, you will be able to fight various ailments more effectively.

Working out regularly will help you beat the winter blues, as well. Your mood will brighten up while and after exercising.

Lastly, whether you exercise indoors or outdoors, you will stay warm. When you work out, your body temperature will rise, which will make you feel more comfortable and calmer.

If you want to exercise indoors, try Zumba, callisthenics, or yoga. Simple activities, such as climbing the stairs, jumping jacks, and playing with your kids or pets can give you the workout you need, as well.

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4. Stay Hydrated

Although you may not sweat a lot during the cold season, you still need to drink plenty of water, even if you don’t think you need it.

Keep in mind that the human body is made up of 70% water. As such, you have to stay hydrated to ensure all parts work properly.

Drink at least eight glasses of water every day. You can also boost your fluid intake by consuming hot soups, sipping herbal tea and fresh fruit juices.

Milk is also something that you should drink more of during the winter. It is packed with protein, vitamins A and B12 – nutrients that strengthen the immune system.

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5. Take Care of Your Skin

Your skin will be prone to drying during winter. As such, it is essential that you take care of fit during the cold season too.

Even if the sun is not out, wear sunscreen. Use one with moisturizer on your face to keep your skin from flaking and drying out.

To protect your hands, always apply lotion or cream after washing them. Use rubber gloves if you have to do the dishes.

Additionally, apply moisturizer at night after washing your face thoroughly. Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser as well to avoid dryness.

Staying hydrated and eating more fresh fruits and veggies will help you stay healthy and fit in UAE regardless of the weather.

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6. Get Plenty of Quality Sleep

The cold weather sets up the perfect conditions for sleeping longer. Take advantage of this and get more shut-eye every night.

When you get plenty of quality sleep every night, you enhance your immune function. As a result, you will be less prone to getting sick during winter.

Additionally, sleep helps improve your concentration and productivity. If you tend to feel tired and have trouble concentrating at work because of the weather, getting more shut-eye will help you overcome this.

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This winter, reduce the likelihood of feeling under the weather and continue to stay healthy and fit in UAE by following the tips shared above.