Winter is a magical season filled with cozy nights, warm drinks, and holiday cheer. But it also brings risks to senior health, like frigid weather, shorter days, and a higher risk of illnesses like colds, flu, and pneumonia.
The good news? With a few smart senior winter wellness strategies, you can boost your immunity and enjoy winter without worry. Here are ten practical senior health tips to help you stay strong and healthy this season.
1. Nourish your body with seasonal foods.
Eating in-season foods has tons of benefits for senior winter wellness:
- Nutrient density: Seasonal foods are fresher and richer in nutrients because they’re harvested at peak ripeness and require less storage and transportation.
- Better flavor: Seasonal veggies and fruits are allowed to ripen naturally, offering a richer taste.
- Cost-effective: Seasonal produce is usually more abundant, making it more affordable.
- Environmentally friendly: Out-of-season foods require more resources (water, energy, and chemicals) to grow and transport, but seasonal foods are often grown and shipped locally, reducing their environmental impact.
Thankfully, winter’s bounty is chock full of delicious and immune-boosting seasonal fruits and veggies to complement your senior winter wellness plan. Root vegetables, beets, Brussels sprouts, squashes, pumpkins, fennel, and dark leafy greens are packed with vitamins and minerals that boost your immune system and keep you healthy all winter long. Check out these delicious winter recipes that promote senior health.
Tip: Make grocery shopping easier with GoGo Grocery. Getting groceries in winter is a chore; you have to battle bad weather, heavy traffic, icy walkways, and heavy bags. But with GoGo’s grocery delivery service, you can order seasonal produce from the comfort of your home, and it’ll be delivered right to your front door. With GoGoGorandparent, you never have to battle Jack Frost to have healthy, delicious food on hand.
2. Warm up with herbal teas.
Swap your afternoon cup of coffee or soda for immune-boosting, antioxidant-rich herbal teas like echinacea, elderberry, or ginger. Other healthy, delicious teas include turmeric, ginger, licorice root, peppermint, chamomile, lemongrass, and green teas. These teas will warm you up on chilly days and help you de-stress, making them an easy addition to your senior winter wellness routine.
For an extra boost of senior health, add a spoonful of honey to your tea. Honey is a natural sweetener with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to fight off bacteria and soothe a sore, dry throat.
Click here to learn how to get your herbal teas delivered with GoGo Grocery!
3. Boost your vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D is vital for senior health. It regulates the immune system and supports bone strength by aiding calcium absorption. Maintaining strong bones is particularly important in winter as the risk of falls increases due to icy conditions.
Sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D, but sunlight is limited during winter, so it’s easy to become deficient. Consider boosting your vitamin D through supplements or fortified foods to reduce your risk of winter infections. GoGo Pharmacy can deliver your prescriptions and supplements right to your door so you never miss a dose of your medications or supplements.
Note: Always talk to your primary care physician before starting new supplements or medications.
4. Move your body every day.
Regular physical activity is an easy and effective way to prioritize senior winter wellness. Research shows that exercise strengthens the immune system by boosting the production of antibodies and white blood cells that defend against respiratory infections. Even moderate exercise like walking, stretching, yoga, or chair yoga helps your body naturally fight off infections. Aim for 30 minutes of activity in your daily senior winter wellness routine to see the greatest results.
Senior health tip: Check out GoGo’s free indoor workout classes on YouTube, like strength training, chair yoga, and functional fitness. These online classes help you stay active, even when it’s blustery outside.
If you’re not a fan of solo workouts, use GoGo Rides to get to a local gym or community center instead! You can get a friend to join you for a boost of motivation.
5. Prioritize sleep in your senior winter wellness plan.
A good night’s sleep is essential for a healthy immune system. Sleep gives your body time to repair and regenerate, helping ward off illnesses. Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night.
Want to get better sleep? Check out these 14 sleep tips to improve sleep quality and senior winter wellness.
6. Stay hydrated, even when it’s cold.
Staying hydrated is just as important in winter as in summer. Proper hydration supports senior health by helping your body flush out toxins and keeping your mucous membranes moist, which can prevent germs from entering your system.
Warm beverages like broths, herbal teas, or fruit-infused water can make hydration more enjoyable. Consider using a water tracking app or a water bottle with ounce markings to monitor your intake.
7. Don’t skip your medications.
Taking your medications as prescribed is vital for maintaining a strong immune system and overall senior health. Missed doses can weaken your body’s defenses, making you more susceptible to illness. Here are a few tips for medication adherence:
- Use a pillbox to track and organize your medications.
- Setting reminders on your phone or keeping a schedule for medications ensures consistent use, even on busy days.
- Use GoGo Pharmacy to have your medications delivered to your home on a regular schedule, so you never have to worry about running out.
- Get more tips and tricks for medication adherence here.
8. Add probiotics to your diet.
A healthy gut is key to senior health, and probiotics are vital to help maintain gut health. Probiotics have been shown to “turn on” the immune system and prevent pathogens from taking hold. Foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods are rich in natural probiotics.
Try adding probiotic-rich foods in your next GoGo Grocery delivery. If you’re not a fan of fermented foods, consider adding probiotic supplements to your next GoGo Pharmacy order.
Note: Check with your doctor before starting new supplements or probiotics to ensure they won’t interfere with your senior health plan.
9. Practice mindfulness and stress management.
Chronic stress weakens the immune system, making you more vulnerable to illness. For ultimate senior winter wellness, take time to practice mindfulness. Activities like meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or your favorite hobbies can help reduce stress levels.
Consider joining a local meditation or yoga class to learn new techniques. Use GoGo Rides to get you there safely while maintaining your zen.
10. Get your vaccinations.
Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to prevent illness. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines – like the flu shot, pneumonia shot, or COVID booster – are right for your senior health plan.
Prioritizing senior winter wellness
You don’t need to hibernate this winter to stay healthy. By following these practical senior winter wellness health tips, you can enjoy the season with confidence and take charge of your senior winter wellness.
Sign up for GoGoGrandparent today to unlock convenient services that will put you on the path to ultimate senior winter wellness, helping you stay healthy, independent, and thriving all season long.
