Good Health's top tips for winter wellness

Keep yourself well in cooler times with these health-boosting tips, says Helen Foster.

Be it coughs, colds, backache or the blues, our instant health boosters will help get you primed to fight off all the chilly weather can throw at you.

Turn over a new leaf
Beyond its proven benefits in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, olive leaf extract is an excellent winter health tonic. Packed with active compounds, such as the powerful antioxidant oleuropein, olive leaf has strong antimicrobial properties, stopping cold and influenza viruses in their tracks.

It is also rich in immune-supporting nutrients like vitamin C, zinc, iron, selenium and beta-carotene. Take it daily to ward off winter illnesses or to relieve the symptoms of coughs, colds and flu.

Reach for silicone
During the winter months, you might find your skin becomes more sensitive. "When skin dehydrates, the cement that helps skin cells stick together is damaged, and this reduces the skin's barrier protection, making it easier for irritants to get underneath and trigger reactions," says Emma Hobson, education manager at the International Dermal Institute.

While any moisturiser will help reduce the risk of this, Hobson specifically recommends products like serums that contain silicone. "It really helps seal the skin and reinforce that barrier," she explains.

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Eat more beans
According to Chinese medicine, every season is associated with a different element (earth, fire, air or water) in our body. Winter's element is water and if it's in balance in your system, you'll be healthier and enjoy the season far more. "It helps you feel comfortable with the colder weather," says Adelaide acupressure expert John Kirkwood.

A water imbalance could lead to problems with the urinary system, making winter a prime time for bladder infections. Foods like beans, especially black or red kidney beans, seaweed and blue or black foods like blackcurrants or blueberries are said to balance the water element.

Call a friend
You might not feel as chilly if you do. According to researchers at the University of Toronto, we feel cold more acutely when we're lonely. If you're rugging up more than normal, or craving hot drinks and snuggly jumpers when it's relatively mild outside, it might be time for a girls' night out.

Enjoy lemon daily
The juice of one lemon gives you 28mg of immune-strengthening vitamin C — that's 62 percent of the recommended daily intake. "On a cellular level, vitamin C has been shown to boost the production and function of white blood cells and increase the concentration of antibodies in our blood," says medical scientist and naturopath Annalies Corse.

"The antioxidant properties of vitamin C also help prevent damage to white blood cells in the process of destroying viruses and bacteria, so they can keep fighting the infection."

To fortify your system against winter bugs, Corse suggests starting the day with lemon in a large glass of warm water with the peel added. "The essential oil it contains is a potent mix of natural phytochemicals known as terpenes, which have significant antimicrobial and immune-boosting properties."

For the complete story, see the July 2010 issue of Good Health.

Subscribe to Good Health for only $59.95, that's only $5 per issue. Plus receive a bonus Trilogy Vital Moisturising cream, valued at $38.

Bonus: Good Health's July issue comes with a FREE Snack Smart Guide, which contains 240 great snacks under 240 calories. What better way to keep the weight off this winter?