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Getting sick doesn't have to be an inevitable part of winter. We round up our favourite ways to get through the colder months without getting ill.
1. Don't get sick
There aren't more cold and 'flu germs around in the winter - it's just that we tend to be indoors more often and in more proximity to each other, allowing the bugs to spread more easily. But that doesn't make getting sick an inevitable part of winter, says naturopath Leisa Harford. Start building your immunity now so your body can resist illness. "All year round but particularly in winter you want to be taking herbs to enhance your immunity," Harford says. "That's echinacea, garlic, olive leaf, vitamin C and zinc - or a supplement designed to boost your immune system which combines them."
2. Sleep
Again if you want to avoid the winter lurgy, get your eight hours. "Sleep bolsters your immune system so if you're running on too little then it's a dead cert you'll pick up every bug going," Harford says.
3. Go to Fiji
Okay, it's true, last week our Prime Minister urged New Zealanders to re-think holiday plans to the beleaguered nation, after the expulsion of New Zealand's High Commissioner there, Michael Green. But if you were to ignore Helen then House of Travel has three-night packages to Fiji starting from $899 per adult twin share, including flights, accommodation and breakfasts. In June the average high temperature is around 26C or 27C. Contact House of Travel on 0800 838 747 or visit www.houseoftravel.co.nz for more information.
4. Soak in hot pools
Sally Jackson, author of Hot Springs of New Zealand, says her absolute favourite place for a warming soak is Ngawha Springs, just out of Kaikohe. "These are some of the most therapeutic springs in the country," she says. "Everyone knows that the water in hot pools is rich in sulphur, which has anti-inflammatory properties and so is great for winter aches and pains. But the different pools in Ngawha are rich in all sorts of other healing minerals too - plus there are amazing psychological benefits." Don't want to go north? Well, Jackson says there's almost 100 thermal hotpools in New Zealand that are accessible for public bathing, and around 35 are operated commercially. Check out www.nzhotpools.co.nz
5. Eat potatoes
You don't actually need potatoes in winter, says Niki Bezzant, editor of the monthly magazine Healthy Food Guide, but a warming plate of mash is certainly top of a lot of people's lists of winter comfort food. And you can indulge - just keep it healthy. "The secret to a perfect mash is using the right potato," she says. "You need floury potatoes; agria, with yellow flesh, are the very best. Don't use lashings of butter and cream, just add trim milk, lite sour cream and white pepper and salt. If you want a bit more flavour, boil the potatoes in stock, rather than water. To jazz it up add some feta or another low-fat soft cheese, or else mash through some pumpkin or kumara - they're both full of antioxidants."
6. Make mulled wine
"You don't need expensive wine," says wine writer Yvonne Lorkin. "I always use a cask of medium red wine, that makes a lot! Otherwise start with a cheap Aussie shiraz like Jacob's Creek or Binn 444. If you're using a whole cask, add one litre of orange juice, one litre of ginger ale and about half a cup of brandy with two or three cinnamon sticks and nutmeg pods - or just use ground spice if you don't have them whole. Bring it to a simmer for a couple of minutes but not a boil - you don't want all the alcohol to burn off! If you have some left over, just keep it in the fridge, you can heat up a mug in the microwave any time you want a toddy."
7. Drink less alcohol
And while the odd warming pint's a nice treat, bear in mind that alcohol is a depressant and energy sapper if you overdo it, so having a bit of a session isn't exactly the best cure for a wonky mood.
8. Have the second-to-last shower
That way you get to undress in a room full of warm steam but ensure the hot water won't run out after lots of use.
9. Make hearty soup
This recommendation for bacon and bean soup with cheddar cheese toasts comes from food writer Jennie Milsom:
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
2 onions, chopped
3 sticks celery, chopped
1 leek, chopped2 tbsp chopped thyme or rosemary
150g (5 rashers) streaky smoked bacon, chopped
1.5 litres (around 6 cups) good-quality vegetable or chicken stock
3 cups cooked mashed potatoes or chopped boiled potatoes (around 3 medium potatoes)
400g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
A large handful silver beet, shredded
2 thick slices bread
4 slices cheddar cheese
Directions:
Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based pan.
Add the onions, celery, leek and thyme and cook for 10 minutes, stirring, until starting to soften. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes until golden.
Add the stock, bring to the boil, then add the potato, beans and peas. Stir well, then whiz half the mixture in a blender or food processor. Tip back into the pan and return to the heat. Add the silver beet and cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted.
Meanwhile, toast the bread, top with the cheese, then put under a hot grill, cheese-side-up, for 1-2 minutes or until bubbling. Cut each piece in half.
Ladle the soup into large bowls and serve each with a cheese toast. Serves 4.
10. Get some sun
Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder, known as the winter blues, to some degree. This is largely because sun exposure releases feel-good chemicals in the brain, and so the lack of sunlight in mid-winter means fewer of these hormones are produced, making us prone to depression. Common symptoms of SAD include oversleeping, feeling tired, lethargic and moody, craving starchy, sugary foods, weight gain, lack of concentration and loss of libido.
11. Talk a lot
Because winter encourages us to socially isolate ourselves - stay home and hibernate - we can drop out of our networks and become more prone to illnesses like depression, says Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements. "It's important for your mental health to just keep connected. Keep your networks going, talk on the phone and make an effort to do things and see people."
12. Stay active
Exercise increases your energy, kick-starts your metabolism and so helps keep your weight under control. Like bright light, exercise releases feel-good chemicals that lighten up your mood. Braving the elements with a short run will get your mechanism going.
13. Eat oily fish
Because it's rich in omega 3 fatty acids, a scientifically proven mood booster, as well as being rich in magnesium and B6 vitamins. Studies have shown that omega 3 can elevate mood, reduce depression - and even reduce the risk of suicide - so fatty fish (or fish oil supplements) should be part of any anti-SAD strategy.
14. Take a happy pill
There are herbal supplements that can help if you feel down in the winter. Naturopath Lynda Wharton suggests taking SAM-e or St John's Wort.
15. Keep your fluids up
In winter, we're generally less thirsty so we tend to drink less and spend more time in artificially heated environments, both of which lead to dehydration. If you don't feel like plain water, opt for hot water with a squeeze of lemon and herbal teas. Or try green tea and hot cranberry juice - they're both full of antioxidants.
16. Try acupuncture
Acupuncture can make a huge difference in balancing your mood - it's helpful for everything from depression and anxiety, to apathy and exhaustion. To prevent SAD, naturopath, acupuncturist and health author Lynda Wharton recommends that you start treatment ahead of winter, with regular rebalancing sessions during those colder months.
17. Brave the elements
The cold weather won't kill you. So wait for the next clear, crisp winter's day, wrap up and take your other half, family and thermos flasks filled with hot coffee and soup for a picnic in the park or by the beach. If you get the chills, walk it off or kick a ball around on the beach.
18. Get a massage
Touch has been shown to build your immune system. So a half-hour massage can help fight off bugs as well as lessen stress and make you feel calm and happier. If your partner's up for a mutual massage session - for your health - just add a couple of drops of peppermint, wintergreen and ginger essential oil to a base oil like jojoba or almond oil. Remember not to use the essential oil directly on your skin.
19. Prep your skin
Cold temperatures, hot heater air and warm showers all do their bit to dry out your skin. To winter-proof your skin and get the rosy glow back, exfoliate once or twice a week with a mild product to get rid of dead skin cells. Use a richer moisturiser than in summer, especially one that contains antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E to protect against external damage. It's also worth adding a few nourishing extras, like Evolu's Hydra Quenching Mask, or Biophora Pure C powder.
20. Have kids
People with such appendages say you can't afford and/or don't have the time for winter blues. It's fail proof.
