5 ways to get your body ready for spring

With warmer weather just around the corner, now is the time to get our bodies in peak condition. Dr Janakan Krishnarajah, who specialises in clinical pharmacology and internal medicine, explains that winter’s bad habits can creep up on us, leaving effects that can carry on long after winter is gone.

Dr Janakan Krishnarajah, chief medical officer at Entity Health – a line of Australian-made natural health supplements that address specific health and skin conditions – says: “We all rejoice when spring finally arrives and gives us respite from the cold temperatures and long nights. However, during winter, many people can often get into bad habits that can carry into the warmer months.

“During the cool and damp weather in winter, an increase in viruses and shorter days can lead to more time spent indoors – which leaves many Aussies feeling more prone to tiredness, a lower mood, and a general slump in their overall wellbeing. People often tend to eat heavier and richer meals that don’t provide us with all the necessary vitamins, nutrients and minerals that we need, which can lead to deficiencies. Good health involves not only nutritional health, but hormonal, cellular and mental health as well.”

Dr Janakan highlights his top five tips that will get your body spring ready.

1. Soak up some sunshine to get your Vitamin D hit. It can be hard to soak up sunshine during winter, leaving many of us deficient in Vitamin D. With the weather getting warmer, why not try and spend more time in the sun (don’t forget to slip, slop, slap). In winter, it is recommended that Aussies should get between 10-15 minutes of sun exposure a day. If you are accidentally out there for too long, consider Entity Health’s skin health supplement MelaniX, which supports skin healing and regeneration.

2. Enjoy the great outdoors. It can be hard to feel motivated to exercise when it is bitterly cold and dark outside. Winter is also a time when people tend to overindulge in rich foods, making it incredibly important to start getting back into a regular exercise routine when it gets warmer. Health professionals recommended that we do 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity such as walking and to spend two days a week strength training.

3. Improve your mobility. It’s not uncommon to feel aches and pains after winter – the cold and damp weather can make your bones and joints feel stiff and difficult to move. Cooler weather can also exacerbate existing osteo conditions and old injuries. You can improve bone health and reduce joint pain with supplements such as Entity Health’s Fortefix Plus, which contains boron to support strong bones.

4. Eat more nuts and seeds. With constant exposure to cold temperatures, harsh winds and constant heating, it’s no wonder that winter can leave most people’s skin dry and worse for wear. To improve skin health, eat a healthy diet rich in nuts and seeds – both of which are great sources of Vitamin E. To boost your skin health even further, you can try Entity Health’s skin health supplement LumeniX, which helps reduce the appearance of skin spots and pigmentation.

5. Boost your energy levels. Most people feel lethargic and drained during winter, so it’s important to find ways to boost energy come springtime. Cutting down on excessive caffeine and alcohol use can help improve energy levels, and so can certain supplements. Often referred to as the ‘molecule of youth’, nicotinamide (NAD+) can help improve energy levels and reduce the feeling of tiredness. You can boost your energy levels with nicotinamide supplements such as Entity Health’s RestoriX.