A Few Tips for Weathering the Winter

As you read this, I will be in one of the coldest cities in Canada: Winnipeg. It's right in the centre of the country, just north of Minnesota and N. Dakota for you Americans. And you all know how cold those states are!

These are just reminders. I've talked about these things before. But hey, reminders remind us.

Buy a neti pot and use it at the first sign (tickle) of a cold. It looks like a teapot but you insert the spout gently into one nostril and let warm, salty water wash through your sinuses and out the other nostril. Then you do the other side. It's easy and totally painless. Honest. My neti pot has helped me nip many a cold in the bud. And even when I do manage to get the sniffles, it helps me recover faster.

Take your Vitamin D. In northern climes we really don't get enough of the sunshine vitamin. OK, maybe it's the latest fad, but there seem to be a lot of serious studies pointing to the importance of this vitamin. Do a Google search, you'll be shocked.

For dry hands, try this: After washing your hands, but before drying them, put on some Vaseline (petroleum jelly). It locks in the moisture. Rub your hands together for a few seconds to let it penetrate and then wipe off the excess. This is a trick my GP gave me and it's really saved me from having constantly cracking finger tips during the winter months.

And one last tip, for any time of the year: for irregularity, drink 1/3 cup of aloe juice first thing in the morning when you get up and last thing before you go to bed. Works like a charm.

Snuggle up, everyone!