Keeping Warm Despite the Winter Chill

Maintaining a balanced internal, core temperature is a function of so many factors.  Today we'll explore some of the many tools available to us, as a condition of diet and nutritional wellness, that help us weather the rigors of winter life along the North Atlantic.  Bear in mind that dressing properly, in layers, and with clothing that suits the individual's needs is always a cornerstone to any discussion along these lines.  Similarly, sufficient rest and exercise play an extremely important role in circulatory system competencies.  Stress management and peace of mind go without saying, as these factors allow us to live in harmony to the fullest.

Bringing the energy of the sun and all things warm and comfortable our way during the winter months in this part of the world is always a challenge.  However, this challenge can be met very successfully with a few simple approaches.  Some people are seemingly born to cold weather and the bite in the air doesn't throw them as it might others, and that's fine.  For the rest of us, we have to work a little bit harder and smarter at finding the middle ground.

How, when, what and how frequently we should take in sustenance are some key questions that must be examined to find pearls of life-supportive knowledge in these ways.  Avoid eating cold foods or those meals that have just come from the fridge, as they tend to require our bodies to supply the energy calories to render that food digestible, depleting us of essential energy better employed elsewhere.  This is common sense to most people, but sometimes we stray, to our detriment.  Eating late at night – just prior to bedtime – is a classic no-no as true digestive efficiency is sacrificed.  Eating on the run, while vexed with stress is a recipe for disaster over time.  Shun most commercial "fast" food as it, generally, is sub-par in terms of the nutrient that stokes the internal fires in the truest sense.  Try for more small meals of quality ingredients that satisfy your real needs and choose those meals with care.  Keep the variety and freshness as essential considerations in this endeavor.

Many "belly-burner" herbs may be incorporated into one's diet to marvelous benefit, when used selectively and with proper knowledge.  Cayenne, chili, habanero and jalapeno peppers, cumin, curries, paprika, horseradish, turmeric, cinnamon, mustard seed powder, ginger root, onions, chives, radishes and cilantro are all potential candidates for "internal combustion" exploration.  Used cautiously and with wisdom, any of these (and others), either individually or in combination can save the day and keep you toasty, even under the most arduous conditions.

Thyroid support, too, can be garnered by ingesting naturally occurring elemental iodine (and a wonderful variety of minerals) in the form of good quality trace mineral supplements, unrefined sea salts or sea "weeds" such as dulse, kelp, arame, hijiki, wakame and nori in all forms.  The Thyroid gland, also generally referred to as the master gland, is a cornerstone to metabolic stability.  This is a very important base to touch in the search for greater circulatory wellness.

Nurturing our heart and providing the necessary elements for its well-roundedness is also a key to this puzzle.  Hawthorne berry, in all forms, is a terrific heart tonic, as is garlic. These foods (to name a few) found in nature have both general and specific application regarding physiological flourishing.  See, too, that electrolytic balance (via trace mineral intake) is achieved daily as this also goes a long way in determining a robust and vital pump to better meet our circulatory needs. 

When the wind is blowing and the temperature is bitter, we need all the benefits of a body that can weather the storm comfortably.

Warm regards,
Steve Siegelwaks