The middle of January is pretty much the same all over the northern hemisphere (unless you live in Florida!). It’s bitterly cold and achingly tempting to stay huddled indoors with heating, Netflix and steaming hot drinks.
Januarys in Jerusalem are icy and bitter, with bone chilling winds and either glaring sun or grey clouds and pouring rain with nothing in between. Having lived in both London and Jerusalem, I’ve learned that there are some things Israelis do better to stay healthy during the winter,
As most of us do not have the luxury of hibernating through the cold wintery months, here’s a new Israeli’s guide to feeling great this winter!
1) Eat your greens It’s tempting to spend these cold wintery months hiding in a pile of mashed potatoes and macaroni cheese, but it’s definitely not the healthiest place to be. Israelis munch through huge plates of fruit and veg whatever the weather, and it’s the healthiest thing to do. Their soluble fibers keep your fuller for longer to avoid late-night carb binges, and the high vitamin and mineral content helps fight off coughs, colds and the winter blues.
2) Sunscreen This may sound a little counter intuitive, because further north we grow up learning to slather on sunscreen in the summer. But – it’s not the sun’s heat that’s bad for your skin, it’s the UV waves transmitted through light. If your winter features harsh, bright sunlight, you need sunscreen in January just as much as you do in July.
3) Love the skin you’re in Central heating might seem like the perfect, soothing remedy from cold, sharp winds but the combination is lethal for your skin. To avoid papery, dry, cracked and flaky skin, make sure to moisturize! We especially love skincare rich in Dead Sea minerals for fully hydrated and loved up skin.
4) Drink! (Water) Sitting in heated rooms may feel wonderful, but it’s drying out your whole body just like hours spent sitting under the sun. Make sure to stay hydrated – your skin will look better and you’ll feel healthier.
Happy winter and keep warm!
