Getting through winter: Six hot tips for the cold

Winter could be a wonderful time of year, if only it weren't for our perpetually cold hands and feet! Take a read of our hot, handy tips.

The main cause of cold hands and feet in winter is our body trying to protect our important organs from the cold, consequently reducing the blood supply to our extremities.

Diet has a crucial impact on whether you go through the next few months as a walking icicle or a patio heater. In winter, the body needs significantly more energy, to maintain body temperature than in summer.

Spicy foods in particular promote blood circulation and get the circulation going.

If you drink too little liquid, the blood thickens and no longer circulates properly. A popular home remedy for cold hands and feet is ginger tea.

Among other things, it contains substances that can activate heat receptors on the skin and mucus membranes. It also stimulates the immune system and helps to prevent colds.

If you get cold easily, you should avoid alcohol and cigarettes. Alcohol removes water from the body and the nicotine in cigarettes constricts the blood vessels, negatively impacting blood circulation. A hot toddy certainly helps in the moment though!

Movement works wonders, because the body actively heats up from the inside. Regular endurance training such as jogging and cycling helps improve our blood circulation and increase our energy consumption. Fresh air is also ideal!

Another way to prevent being cold is to stimulate blood circulation via cold showers. It may sound counterintuitive, and not especially pleasant, but heat contrasts can have a great effect on blood circulation.

Insufficient sleep or stress can also put blood circulation to a hard test. In stressful phases, our body releases more adrenaline, which causes the vessels in the extremities to constrict. Relaxation exercises, meditation or yoga can help reduce stress.

You can read more on our winter myths here.