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Don't Get Sick!
Don't Get Sick!
Winter presents a number of training obstacles for runners. Shorter, darker days and icy roads can freeze training in its tracks, while a storm of season-specific health problems including cold fingers and toes, stiff, achy joints, and even seasonal depression can leave you wanting to skip your run altogether. Luckily, making certain foods and drinks a regular part of your diet can help you avoid common winter problems. So before a winter woe sidelines you from yet another workout, try these consumable prescriptions for staying healthy and running strong all season long.
Winter Power Foods
Boost your chances of staying healthy with these nutrient-packed picks.
Dairy Most milk, yogurt, and cheese contains vitamin D and calcium. These nutrients work together to prevent bone loss.
Slow-cooked stews Made with lean beef, stews provide iron needed for red blood cell production.
Green tea A mug will warm you up plus, research shows EGCG (a compound in green tea) has anticancer properties that may prevent skin-tumour growth.
Canned tuna It's a good source of vitamin D, important in the winter when less sun exposure decreases our body's ability to produce it.
Barley This chewy grain (perfect for soups and stews) is high in cholesterol-lowering fibre and selenium, which reduces free-radical damage.
Winter squash Sharpen your eyesight for dark months with vitamin A superstars, such as pumpkin and butternut squash.
Onions and garlic These bulbs provide a boost of flavour along with antimicrobial properties, which may help protect you from winter bugs.
Kale In season in early winter, this leafy green delivers a mega dose of vitamin K, which helps maintain strong bones and form blood clots.
Baked potatoes White spuds are high in vitamin C, while sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A two antioxidants that help protect your immune system.
Citrus Oranges, grapefruits, and other types of citrus fruits (at their peak in the winter months) are high in fibre and immune-boosting vitamin C.
Stay healthy and warm this winter!