Tackling your Winter Woes and Worries

This post was written by

Paula Egan| Supervising Pharmacist at McLaughlins Pharmacy

 

The winter months can be a “quieter time”, but farmers as a breed like to be busy and some find these darker months difficult especially this year with everything else that’s going on around us!

Here’s a few suggestions to hopefully help you through these dull days. As always, at McLaughlins we’re here to help.

 

Keep Active!

Exercise produces serotonin “the happy hormone” so even if you don’t feel like exercising you’ll definitely feel better for doing it.  It doesn’t have to be for a very long time  – 30 minutes every day will benefit you and help prevent heart disease.  Chocolate also helps, would you believe!! Chocolate produces serotonin and dark chocolate has been scientifically proven to protect the heart.

 

Boost Your Immune System

Nobody wants to catch a cold (especially these days) but we can help our immune system by increasing our Vitamin C intake, naturally, by eating citrus fruits or by using supplements.  

Zinc and Lysine also help to prevent cold sores.  Echinacea is a natural product used to strengthen our immune system  and it’s available in many different forms  –  tablets, drops, liquid.

 

Vitamin D

A high proportion of Irish people are deficient in Vitamin D – especially during the winter months.  It helps prevent respiratory conditions and benefits immune function. Vitamin D “the sunshine vitamin” is produced in our skin when it is exposed to the sun. Since the sun is pretty hard to find these days a supplement is highly recommended.  Other natural sources are oily fish, eggs, liver and fortified foods.

 

An all-round super supplement is Revive Active, it supports energy, the immune system and a healthy heart.  It’s a tasty powder that you mix with water and take it daily.  If you’d prefer a capsule I would highly recommend Pharmaton (a multivitamin with Ginseng to help boost energy).

 

If you’re feeling a bit low in mood see my previous blog that includes tips to help boost your mental wellness.

 

Until next time. Keep well, keep safe and keep smiling!

 

Paula