luminiquelife.com Winter brings not just joy. It brings freezing, tiredness, weight gain, weight loss and more. We’re here to help you with that, so here’s how to stay warm and healthy in winter.
Content Table
Chapter 1: Layer Up
I’m sure we all know to layer up. However, we don’t want to look like a penguin, do we? So, here’s how to dress to beat the cold, the RIGHT way.
You should consider layering your clothes from thinnest to thickest. It should look something like this.
Base Layer (Underwear Layer): We start off with a tight-fitting base layer made of synthetic materials like polyester. This layer wicks sweat away from your skin, keeping you dry and preventing chill. Consider long underwear tops and bottoms (Click here for basic ones).
If it is too cold outside, consider switching to a thicker one. Looking for thermal or merino wool ones. These materials are designed to retain heat, keeping your body warm.
Middle Layer (Insulating Layer): The middle layer retains body heat. Consider options like a fleece jacket or a puffy down jacket. This layer helps keep you warm without adding bulk.
Additionally, you can also consider adding a thermal shirt if it gets too cold. This will provide warmth without too much “bulkiness”.
Outer Layer (Shell Layer): The outer layer shields you from wind and rain. Find a waterproof and breathable rain jacket and pants. These protect you from the elements while allowing moisture to escape.
Chapter 2: Warm from Within
Craving comfort? I’m sure we all know that feeling. Having a cup of hot coffee or hot chocolate, while it is freezing outside. Hot drinks and hearty meals can do more than satisfy hunger—they can heat you up from the inside out.
How so?
Your body produces heat in order to digest heavier meals, thus they are better for keeping warm. Therefore, in winter it can be easy to overeat.
We may feel more hungry than usual causing ourselves to overeat foods to keep warm.
On the flip side, undereating can be quite common too given the intentional restriction of foods.
In order to consume just the right amount, just know that your body needs slightly more food than usual in winter. If you have troubles with eating, you can find out how coffee can help with weight loss here.
Hot drinks tell our bodies to sweat, thus ‘warming down’ our bodies. Therefore, having a healthy amount of hot drinks can significantly help to keep us warm.
Best hot drinks to drink in winter
- Coffee: Who doesn’t love a cup of coffee in winter? Coffee has a world of benefits that are especially useful for winter, such as weight loss, energy and more (learn more here). If you are feeling adventurous, you can consider making an upgraded version.
Mix grass-fed butter or coconut oil into your coffee using any kind of blender and thank me later. A coffee machine is a definitely a worthwhile investment, ESPECIALLY in winter. If you need help picking one, here’s our tailored guide.
- Hot chocolate: Everyone’s comfort drink: dark, rich hot chocolate! Hot chocolate has more to offer beyond it’s rich and delicious taste. It is a good source of fiber and iron. It is also high antioxidants, containing 3 times more than green tea!
- Hot Lemon Water: Despite its simplicity, hot lemon water has health benefits. It can boost your immune system and aid in weight loss. This is the perfect simple drink for winter!
Ultimately, the best drink for winter is up to your personal preference. However, the ones above are especially great for the winter when taken in moderation!
Chapter 3: Insulate Your Home
During winter, homes’ the most common place we stay with our family. Here’s 4 simple yet effective ways to insulate your living space and create a fortress of warmth.
- Seal Gaps and Cracks: We all dread the chilly air then comes in when we’re slowly warming up. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal gaps around windows and doors to prevent cold air from entering.
- Insulate Windows: Consider using thermal curtains or window insulation film to reduce heat loss through windows.
- Add Insulation: Increase insulation in your attic, walls, and floors to retain more heat in your home. Why? Because there’s nothing better than a warm home.
- Use Draft Stoppers: Place draft stoppers at the bottom of your doors. This is to block cold air from seeping in.
Prevent cold air from ruining your comfort with those tips. CLICK HERE to find the warmest beddings in winter.
Chapter 4: Embrace the Heat –
Why freeze like a forgotten snowman when you can bask in warmth? It’s Christmas all over again with our tips here!
- Burn Dry Wood: Use only well-seasoned firewood. Wet, green, or moldy wood won’t burn efficiently. Dry wood should be brown, with peeling bark and rough ends. If you want to stay warm, this is a winters’ luxury! (Consider this one for its affordability)
- Invest in a Moisture Meter: Measure wood moisture content. Aim for logs with 20% or lower moisture. The lower the better it burns. While this is not a must, it is a good to have. (We recommend this one for its multi-purposes and price)
- Glass Doors and Air Exchange: Install tempered glass doors to enclose the flame area.
Ultimately, there are many other ways to stay warm in your home. However, we believe that your home should provide comfort for yourself and your family. This is very important as a home is where you shelter yourself from the winter madness and bond with family.
Chapter 5: Stay hydrated
Winter might seem to be the opposite of a desert. However, what if I told you that they were similar.
During winter, it is easy to consume so much food and drinks that we forget to stay hydrated. This often causes many of us to get dehydrated. But why is hydration so important?
Hydration helps maintain our body temperature; lacking fluids may cause our core temperature to drop significantly. This thus increases our chances of hypothermia, winter’s worst nightmare. Here are some signs to look out for.
- Headaches: The most common sign from the lack of fluids and electrolytes
- Dry Mouth: Saliva production requires hydration
- Dry Skin: Winter dehydration shows up as dry and flaky skin
- Fatigue: Feeling sluggish or unusually tired?
- Thirst: The most obvious sign
- Dark-colored Urine: Pale yellow is the perfect color. Darker urine often indicates dehydration
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are the ways to keep you and your family warm in winter. Don’t forget to monitor yourself as it can be easy to get sick during winter. Prevent yourself from getting sick by making sure your body gets all its needed nutrition.
To find out what nutrients your body need during winter, CLICK HERE.
