One of the best ways to support your body during winter is to eat seasonally and locally. The root veggies and seasonal greens supply vitamins and minerals we need for a healthy immune system and boost your mood. These foods are also high in minerals and vitamins like A and K that help build healthy bones. Eat those seasonal veggies. Broccoli, cauliflower, root veggies, gourds, Brussels sprouts, carrots, beets, peas, leeks, eggplant, and zucchini are all your friends right now. Winter is also the time of year we adopt our heavier diets. Ideally it's not all holiday treats and sugar. This is the time, however, to include more grains, nuts, and healthy fats, and if you eat it meat. in your diet. In essence, seasonal winter foods boost immunity and aid in building infrastructure for your body. Everything we need to be doing during the winter. Staying healthy and restoring. Once again, nature provides the foods that we need when we need them. 

In addition to eating seasonally, think of ways to warm yourself from the inside out. Soups and stews full of winter veggies, grains, and warming spices are just the trick. Use that ginger, pepper, cayenne, and turmeric all you like.  

Don't forget the liquids. Herbal teas and hot cocoa during winter are a stereotype for a reason. There's also ciders and mulled wine that have become a holiday tradition. Speaking of liquids.  Don't forget the importance of hydration during winter. As we become less active it's easy to forget the importance of hydration. We often get dehydrated during the holidays. 

Less sunlight and less activity also mean we don't get as much vitamin d as we do during spring and summer. This is the main contributor to seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Unfortunately this comes at a time many of us already struggle with mental health in essence making a bad situation worse. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to fatigue, muscle pain, and depression. Talk to your Dr about adding a vitamin D supplement into your routine.