It’s that time of the year when all of us struggle to even get up in the chilled morning and get ready for our daily chores. The cold wave has engulfed Delhi, Punjab, and other parts of North India. Heavy fog can be seen outside due to unusually cold weather.
Cold weather can have serious consequences on your health including frostbite, hypothermia and many other cold-related problems. Therefore, it’s important to protect yourself from the cold wave. Here are some tips which can protect you against damage caused by freezing temperatures.
1. Dress in layers
Multiple layers of clothing are always beneficial especially when you go outside. You can also carry a heated warm jacket with you which can keep you warm and cosy in extremely cold situations. If you don’t have any, please buy yourself a warm jacket.
2. Don’t Compromise on Diet
There are so many nutritious foods that can keep you warm in cold weather.
- Eat food that is high in healthy fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
- You can start eating oats for breakfast as oats are a great source of whole grains and fiber.
- We also recommend you to drink hot ginger tea as ginger is good for digestive health and can stimulate thermogenesis (production of heat in the body)
- Eat food rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. For example: Sweet Potato.
- Coffee lovers can drink coffee as the caffeine present in it increases the metabolism which raises the temperature of the body.
If you are still puzzled about what to eat or take during cold weather, you can seek help from SupplementRelief.com to get expert advice. Additionally, proper nutrition is vital to staying warm and healthy during colder months.
3. Stay Hydrated
Surprisingly, water helps you to keep your body warm as it regulates the internal temperature of your body. You often don’t drink when it’s cold as you don’t feel thirsty but dehydration may cause your core temperature to drop resulting in hypothermia. Hypothermia is a medical emergency in which the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat. It is usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.
4. Avoid Drinking Alcohol
If you think that a shot of whisky can keep you warm, then, unfortunately, you are wrong. When you drink it, you may feel warm but it will be hard to stay warm over time as drinking alcohol lowers the body’s core temperature.
5. Stay Indoors
If the temperature is too low, do not step outside unless it’s important. If you go outside, limit your time outdoors. Do not forget to take frequent breaks to warm up yourself. It will protect you from catching cold, fever, or any serious illness.
6. Stay Dry
Always stay dry by wearing a waterproof jacket. Avoid activities that make you sweat as wet clothing can make you feel colder. If your clothes get wet due to any reason, immediately change into dry ones to avoid any serious health issues. Drink warm water to make your body temperature normal.
7. Maintain Necessary Ventilation
If you are using a heater in your room to keep yourself warm, please make sure that there is enough ventilation so that you or your family don’t inhale toxic fumes. Do not sleep with the heater on, as it can be really dangerous for your health. It can even lead to respiratory diseases or allergic irritation.
8. Don’t Rub Your Skin Vigorously
If a certain area of your body is cold, do not rub it vigorously. Instead, drink lukewarm water to regulate the body temperature. If the affected area turns black, immediately contact the doctor and take advice.
9. Keep Your Body Moisturized
Skin becomes dry and dull in winter. As the temperature outside freezes, the skin’s pores shrink, which causes heat to accumulate inside the skin, thereby making the skin oily and dull. So, it’s quite important to moisturise the skin to prevent rashes or acne problems.
10. Prefer Mittens Over Gloves
Mittens are comparatively woollen than gloves and therefore provide more warmth. Also, it’s easier to pick up small objects when you’re wearing mittens. They have less total surface area for body heat to escape.
