Stay healthy during the change of seasons
Source: Democrat & Chronicle
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/2015/09/14/six-ways-stay-healthy-change-seasons/72277076/
Many people stress with the change of seasons, particularly with the coming of autumn and the return of school and transitioning of schedules. Autumn is known as a time of decreased immunity. Increased colds and flus and increased stress due to the coming of the cold season combine with the impending holiday season for a stressful time period. But this doesn’t have to be if we follow some simple techniques to stay healthy and whole during the fall season.
Breathe fresh air as often as you can. Just because it is getting a little chillier doesn’t mean that you have to come inside until spring comes around again. Breathe into your belly. This is diaphragmatic breathing, and it improves our immunity, detoxifies us and exercises our internal organs.
Stay hydrated. Autumn is the beginning of the dry season and many people will become dehydrated because they feel it is not hot enough to be drinking water. Increased water intake can improve back pain from doing autumn yard work, improve the immune system, and help prevent many acute and chronic illnesses.
Eat well and eat in season, and local as much as possible. Autumn provides us with root vegetables, fresh fruit, pumpkins and squashes which contain beta carotene, vitamin C, and many other nutrients that can improve our immune function.
Continue to move, even though the cooler season is coming. Maintain or start your exercise routine to improve immune function and to counter the blues and mood swings which can come about with the decrease of light.
Get plenty of rest for restoration and rejuvenation. As the light decreases, embrace it as a time to look inward and improve yourself for your work and your mission. Prepare yourself for the time change and the decreased light by getting to bed earlier.
Get acupuncture at the change of seasons. Many people will receive acupuncture around the time of seasonal changes. Acupuncture has been shown to increase immunity and decrease stress. Evidence demonstrates that those who receive acupuncture regularly have less frequent hospital visits and shorter stays than those who don’t.
