Boost your health this winter

Keeping healthy throughout the winter months can be a challenge for a lot of us. But no one wants to be that person who can’t taste their Christmas dinner because they’re full of a cold. So here are some of our top tips to help boost your health this winter.

Get out and about

With the arctic weather we’re experiencing in the UK this winter, it can feel tempting to stay indoors and melt into the sofa. However, getting outdoors and into the fresh air can have endless benefits for your health. Fresh air has been shown to:

• Help you digest food better
• Oxygen can help improve your brain function because 20% of the air you breathe is used by your brain
• Boost your mood
• Lower your heart rate
• Increase the amount of oxygen in your body which supports white blood cells to function more efficiently which helps to strengthen the immune system
  
  

Free mental health support with your cover

Throughout winter, most of us are busy fighting the flu and trying not to catch a cold but it’s important not to neglect your mental health too. With NHS hospital waiting lists now sky-high with the current figure now standing at 7 million, getting a doctor's appointment can be a struggle.

But did you know that so many of the UK’s leading life insurance providers now offer free mental health support when you take out a policy with them? AIG, one of the leading life insurance providers, provides you with access to their Smart Health app when you take out a life insurance policy with them.*

Smart Health can help you with a few different areas of your life but one of the best benefits the app offers is access to free mental health support. The app also gives you 24/7 access to UK-based online GP services, free health checks, access to an online fitness programme, and Best Doctors (a medical opinion service). If you’re still without cover and want to get started today, click the button below for your free quote!

Go for a wander

For those of us who lack the motivation and discipline to stay fit throughout the cold, dark winter months - walking is a great opportunity to get a bit of exercise in and get yourself out of the house too. Plus, going for a brisk walk can burn some serious calories and if you’re taking in the surrounding views then the time can easily fly by.

Shots, shots, shots!

In most supermarkets and health shops, immune booster shots can be found on the shelves. But did you know these spicy little ginger shots can easily be recreated at home and you don’t need a fancy juicer to do it? With a simple smoothie maker and sieve, you can make your own shots at home.

Simply add a splash of water, fresh ginger (washed), the juice of a couple of lemons, a sprinkle of cayenne pepper (optional) and some turmeric to a blender. Whizz it all up, sieve any lumpy bits out and pour into a big bottle or smaller little bottles if you have them.

Daily ginger shots are a great addition to your wellness routine and could help settle your stomach, are beneficial for your metabolism and could help with nausea.

Don’t neglect your diet

For most of us, especially the food lovers, Christmas time is all about the food. But it’s easy to eat yourself silly with all the treats and drinks flowing around the festive period. So whether it’s those weird couple of days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve or maybe if your diet is something you want to work on in 2023, making some small changes could make all the difference.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be drinking six raw eggs each morning and eating boring food everyday, it’s all about making good choices and eating a balanced diet. Here are some tips that could help you follow a more balanced diet in the new year:

• Frozen fruits and vegetables count too and having a supply of them in your freezer means they will last so much longer than in the fridge. Plus, frozen fruits and vegetables have just as much nutritional value as unfrozen!
  
  
• A little goes a long way and slowly making little changes to your diet instead of a huge lifestyle change means you’re probably more likely to stick to it. Try replacing your afternoon chocolate cravings with fruit - you’ll still get the sugar hit but with more nutritional value.
  
  
• Get your protein in. Including protein in your diet is important for growth and development and having a high protein intake can make you feel more full, meaning you’re less likely to snack. Great sources of protein include: lentils, chickpeas, chicken, beef, fish, nuts and seeds, cheese, meat substitutes and eggs.

Stay hydrated

It’s one of those things that we all know we need to do but it still gets forgotten. Apart from helping with a hangover and keeping us alive, H20 has some other serious benefits:

• Water can help your skin glow
• It’s good for your kidneys (poor hydration can increase the risk of developing kidney stones)
• It can help you maintain your current weight and could help aid weight loss
• Being hydrated can help your exercise performance if you’re a fitness fanatic
• Can help improve your memory and mood - hydration affects both the brain and the body
• Last but not least, our bodies are 70% water - why wouldn’t you drink it!?
  
  

Try and avoid the midnight snacks

We’ve all had a late night snack at one point but some people are repeat offenders when it comes to an after-hours rummage through the kitchen cupboards. Eating late at night can both disrupt your sleep and contribute towards weight gain.

If you have a life insurance policy with AIG, you will be able to access their Smart Health app. One of the features on their app gives you access to advice from your own dedicated expert nutritionists.

All you need to do is provide the experts with a little information about your current health, your goals and any other important snippets about you such as allergies and intolerances. Then one of AIG’s team of nutritionists will get in touch with you to discuss the information you gave and will ask more about your eating habits.

Your nutritionist will then share with you, your personalised menu plan, packed with snack and meal ideas. They may also suggest speaking in a couple of weeks to see how you’re getting on with your personalised plan. With AIG Smart Health, this service is completely free and automatically included within your cover. Plus, if you have a life insurance policy with AIG, you can access their other range of services 365 days a year, 24/7. Click the button below to learn more about how Smart Health made all the difference for one family.

*Benefits listed are not contractual and may be amended or withdrawn in future.