Our tips for keeping your health in check over the festive season
After a year without Christmas parties and seasonal fun, we’re keener than ever to keep our health in tip top condition for the festive period. But, with Christmas coinciding with the biggest cold & flu season of the year and a new variant of Coronavirus, we’re all feeling uber conscious about our health and wellbeing. That’s why we’ll be offering a few of our top tips to dodging the common cold and giving your body the ultimate MOT this Christmas.
But first, let’s find out a little more about the common cold...
What is the common cold?
We hear about it all the time, but what do we really mean when we talk about the ‘common cold’? Well, put plainly, the common cold is a viral infection that can affect your upper respiratory tract. These kinds of viruses usually go away on their own and can give you:
- A blocked or runny nose
- Aches and pains
- A cough
- A sore throat
- Pressure in the ears
- A temperature (1)
What causes the common cold?
Sadly, the cold, wet and windy climate of the UK is a breeding ground for cold & flu viruses. It spreads through the air and can enter your system through your nose, mouth and even your eyes (1)! Don’t worry though, there are plenty of steps you can take to avoid it:
- Wash your hands regularly using warm water & soap.
- Avoid sharing household items such as cups with anyone who has a cold.
- Avoid touching your face, especially your hands and nose because the virus can travel into your body this way.
- Stay fit & healthy (1).
How can I get rid of my common cold?
Thankfully, if you catch the common cold, it’s likely to go away on its own in around 1-2 weeks. But there are plenty of steps you can take to ease your symptoms, including:
- Resting and sleeping
- Gargling with salt water (for a sore throat)
- Staying hydrated
- Keeping warm (1)
Want to avoid the common cold altogether? Give your body a winter MOT using our tips & tricks below
1. Increase your vitamin intake
Keeping on top of your daily vitamin intake is always difficult, especially during the dark days and cold weather when we need vitamins more than ever! Vitamin supplements which contain Vitamin D and C are especially important during winter as our bodies tend not to be getting as much as they need from the sunlight and our diet (2). But what if we could get our daily vitamin intake another way?
Say hello to our low calorie, low sugar BURST drinks! Each flavour of our tasty BURST is enriched with a 3-in-1 multivitamin blend, perfect for staying healthy during the colder months. The multivitamin blend includes Iron and Vitamin B12 supporting energy & focus, Biotin and Zinc supporting hair, skin & nails, and Manganese, Vitamin C and Choline supporting metabolism (3).
Fancy getting festive? Try our Mulled Wine BURST. Enjoy the cult Christmas classic hot or cold for a warming, low calorie drink that’s sure to get you in the spirit.
Find out more about our favourite non-alcoholic festive tipple in our blog below:
2. Support your body
Keeping your body happy from the inside out is one of the best ways to make sure you’ll be feeling fresh for the festive period. If you’re looking to cover all bases with your health this winter, check out of favourite supplements below.
Active Lifestyle Supplements
Believe it or not, essential amino acids cannot actually be produced naturally in our bodies, that’s why we love this supplement set! Essential amino acids are important because they are naturally occurring in protein which helps to maintain muscle (4). Within the supplement bundle, you’ll be able to get your hands on Essential Omega 3, CLA and Amino Acid softgels, perfect for giving your body the healthy boost it needs during winter.
Boost of Botanicals Supplements
Natural and perfectly plant-based, these supplements are another great way to keep your body in check. The bundle contains White Kidney Bean capsules which can be taken before a rich or high starch meal to aid digestion. The bundle also contains Raspberry Extract which can support a healthy metabolism and, finally, Green Tea Extract which naturally provides polyphenols, catechins, epigallocatechin gallate and caffeine in a convenient and vegan friendly tablet form.
Take Control Supplements
Within each bundle of Take Control Supplements you’ll receive the Ultimate Metabolism supplements and Glucose Control supplements. The Ultimate Metabolism tablets are packed full of ingredients to push you further towards your goals. This ultimate formula is designed for energy, focus and to support your metabolism (4). For maximum benefits, we recommend taking 3 capsules every morning with a glass of water to kick start your day. Then, take the Glucose Control supplements, made with Cambogia Fruit powder and Black Pepper extract, to help maintain your blood glucose levels.
3. Stay hydrated
Water makes up 2/3s of our body, so it’s important that we drink enough fluids to maintain a healthy balance. If you are dehydrated, you can be at risk of:
- UTIs
- Dry skin and lips
- Thirst
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Lack of concentration
Not a huge fan of water? Our Water Enhancers are a low sugar, convenient way to stay hydrated without it feeling like a chore!
4. Get plenty of sleep
While having the occasional bad night’s sleep is pretty harmless, it’s important to make sure that we’re generally getting our 8 hours in.
If you’re struggling to get enough sleep, it can:
- Increase the risk of developing medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes and heart disease
- Lead to mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression
- Lead to weight gain
To give yourself the best possible chance of a restful night’s sleep, we recommend:
Switching offTurn off your phone and allow yourself to unwind before bedtime. Whether it’s running yourself a hot bath or curling up with your favourite book, take time for you.
Skipping that caffeine fix
If you’re a coffee lover, it could be keeping you up at night. Make sure to switch to decaf from around 4pm onwards to ensure that you’ll get those 8 hours.
Want to find out more about how sleep can be affecting your weight? Check out our blog below
We hope this has given you plenty of inspiration to give your body a full winter MOT ready for the festive season! Remember to keep in the loop with us via our Instagram and Facebook pages and tag us in all of your festive fun! Need a little support this festive season? Join our Facebook Closed Group to share stories, tips and advice with other members of our exante communtiy!
* Protein contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass
* Chromium contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism.
* Vitamins B6 and B12 contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal function of the immune system and normal psychological function.
