It is officially Winter tomorrow in Australia and we are finally getting some cold weather! Of course the colder weather brings it fair share of health problems for many people and the doctors are already telling us that this year is going to be bad for the flu. So what are you doing to stay healthy this winter?
I am doing quite a few things already to help me stay healthy. I will share 3 tips with you today.
Tip 1: Swimming in the Winter
The first tip is about swimming. I swim 3-4 times a week in an outside pool during the winter months (all year round actually). I know, you are probably shaking your head right now and saying that I must be mad. But no, this will be the 10th year in a row that I have swum outside in the winter. The water can vary from around 20-25 C but generally the only cold bit is the few seconds from when you take your clothes off until you jump into the water. I have been swimming when it was only 1C outside and thoroughly enjoyed my swim. I do have a wet suit top to wear if the pool temperature drops too much. I also have a fantastic swim parka that keeps me warm travelling to and from the pool!
But lets get back to why this is good for your health. Other than the obvious i.e. that swimming is good for strengthening your lungs, I find that regular swimming ensures that my sinuses are also clear. So if there is a hint of a cold hanging round it has nothing to work on. I have had very few colds over the last 10 years and definitely none of those lingering coughs that come with the cold or flu and don’t leave until summer arrives!
But there are other benefits:
You burn more calories when you swim in the cold as your body has to work harder to keep you warm.
Swimming in the cold is also good for your circulation, forcing the blood to the surface.
Swimming in the cold is good for reducing stress.
And of course there is that feel good effect from the endorphins produced from exercising!!
Tip 2: Eat Well
Eating a balanced and healthy diet is important for maintaining your health when its cold. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables and drink lots of fluids. I have been drinking lots of water lately as well as some herbal teas made with Essential Oils. My favourite at the moment is Ginger and Grapefruit. It is tasty and keeps me warm as I work. You could also add a drop of Turmeric to help boost your immunity.
Tip 3: Use Essential Oils
There a number of Essential Oils that can help you maintain a healthy immune system over winter. If you have been using oils for a while you may have heard of something called ‘Immune Bomb’. I know it sounds a bit dangerous but it is really helpful when you are trying to prevent getting sick. It can also be helpful to stop a cold or flu getting worse. I have included recipes for roller ball bottle mix and for capsules for internal use.
Roller Ball Bottle of Immune Bomb
What you will need:
10 drops each of
Lemon Essential Oil
A Protective Blend of Essential Oils,
Oregano and Tea Tree Oils.
A roller ball bottle
Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO) or Dilution
Method:
Add all oils into the roller ball bottle and fill to the top with FCO.
Roll the mix onto the bottom of your feet morning and night to help build your immunity in the lead up to winter and throughout winter.
Capsules of Immune Bomb
You can also make capsules of Immune Bomb and store them for a few weeks in an airtight jar. I take one a day but I would not ingest this mix for more than a week at time. Whilst I use the Roller Ball as a preventative measure, I only use these capsules when I am actually sick and trying to avoid having to take antibiotics.
What you will need:
Lemon Essential Oil x 4 drops,
Protective Blend of Essential Oils x 2 drops, Oregano Essential Oil x 2 drops and Tea Tree Essential Oil x 2 drops in each capsule.
Empty Gelatin Capsules.
Method:
Add all the oils to capsules and close the capsules. I make about 10-15 at one time.
Of course the other thing that I do to stay healthy in winter is to avoid crowded trains and other places. I am fortunate that I work at home and so have limited exposure to people. However, I realise that most of you don’t have that luxury.
So I will just say to you: keep warm, start swimming, eat well and check out the benefits of Essential Oils . Use Immune Bomb when you can’t avoid contact with sick people!
What Next?
If you are ready to enter the world of essential oils and you decide to go the doTERRA way, I would love to help you get started and support you if you want some help. Here is how you can do this: go to my doTERRA website to find out about the range of oil and oil based products available for purchase. You can also sign up to become a member on this site. Once signed up you can purchase oils for wholesale prices! But if you would like some more information click on the Contact Me on the doTERRA website and I will respond to your questions.
We hope you will join us at Helpful By Nature by subscribing to our email list. We would love to hear from you, take your questions and provide answers if we are able.
Until next time,
Gillian (and Andrew)
