Three things you must pay attention to in the winter

 Courtesy of 7Systems Athlete Jasper Blake

Vitamin D, H2O and Ginseng

For most summer athletes the winter months are a time for base building and cross training.  In Canada we are lucky to have winter because it provides a venue for some of the most fun sporting activities on the planet.  Winter is by and large great but it can also create added mental and physiological stress.  Cold weather and shorter, darker days can cause macro and micronutrient depletion that can leave you tired, fatigued and often under the weather.

1) Perhaps the most obvious example of micronutrient depletion is Vitamin D.  Northern climates in particular leave people prone to Vitamin D deficiency.  Vitamin D is produced naturally in the body through sunlight exposure.  In the winter months we are exposed to less sunlight particularly through the eyes and on the skin.  Incorporating a multivitamin supplement that contains Vitamin D can help you stay healthier during the winter months.

2) Hydration is another area that people often neglect in the winter.  This happens primarily because people don’t think to drink as much.  Cooler weather doesn’t prompt us to hydrate as readily as a hot summer day.  However, we still lose water at a rapid rate especially when exercising.  We lose water through sweating but also through respiration.  It’s not uncommon to become chronically dehydrated in the winter months.  If you exercise regularly make sure you follow a similar protocol for hydration as you do in the summer.  It’s also a good idea to make a habit of drinking a glass of water upon waking in order to replace lost water through respiration during sleep.

3) The immune system is probably the area that people focus on most during the winter months.  Ginseng has long been used in traditional medicine as an immune system booster.  Ginseng is often referred to as an adaptogen.  An adaptogen is a term used to describe a herb that increases the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue by balancing the endocrine and immune systems.  There are several products that claim to boost the immune system through the use of Ginseng.

Incorporating a good multivitamin/mineral supplement into your daily routine can help you stay healthy during the winter months.  A product like 7SYSTEMS Endurance Sports Supplement provides a complete spectrum of vitamins and minerals and added extras like the adaptogen ginseng.  And although 7SYSTEMS does not contain any water, you will likely consume a glass of it when taking the product so you will be inadvertently hydrating.

Purchase 7Systems Endurance Sports Supplement here!