Seven Surprising Spring Health Hacks

Seven Surprising Spring Health Hacks

A whopping 44% of Australian's pile on up to 5 kilos during winter, and now that the warmer weather has arrived, many of us are stressing about stripping down to less layers. But with summer holidays now only a few months away, is it too late to get your health up to scratch? Luckily not.

According to Sheila Zhou, expert Scientist at USANA, leading producer of high quality supplements, 'spring is a great time to get back to looking and feeling your best, especially if you're feeling sluggish after the cooler months. Our bodies naturally crave lighter meals during the warmer weather, so even by making small changes, such as including fresh produce into meals and exercising outside, will go a long way to getting yourself functioning at your best."

To help you feel at your best over the warmer months, Ms. Zhou shares her expert spring health hacks:

Turn it down. The change of seasons can be hard on your sleeping routine due to the change of temperature. As your body's natural temperature instinctively lowers as it prepares for sleep, turning the air-conditioning on right before going to bed can trick your brain into falling asleep faster. By setting a timer to increase the temperature before your alarm goes off in the morning is also a simple way to naturally end your sleep cycle and slowly wake yourself up.

Use the extra light for good, not evil. Once day light savings kicks in you may love having the extra hour of daylight, but there's a catch. The change in light time often means you end up staying awake later than usual, and the longer you're awake the more likely you are to indulge in night time snacks. Rather than consuming a sugar laden chocolate bar, or a greasy pizza, choose a snack that will satisfy your cravings without the chemicals – such as USANA's Berry Nutty™ Nutrition Bar which is low GI and made from only natural ingredients.

Be prepared. If you're not a morning person, trying to squeeze a workout in before work can be tricky. A great trick to stop you from hitting the snooze button one to many times, and actually making it to your workout, is wearing your comfortable gym gear to bed. This not only helps you get out the door quicker, but the clothes also shouldn't be too different than your regular pj's – so you're not sacrificing on sleep.

Keep it simple. Many people believe that eating well takes a great amount of time and effort, but there are actually thousands of fuss-free recipes that are both delicious and healthy. Look for ones that incorporate ingredients rich in carotenoids and vitamin A & E, such as quinoa and nuts, and omega-3, such as fish. If you aren't a fan of fish, but are looking to introduce more omega-3 into your diet, try USANA's BiOmega capsules. These ingredients are not only great detoxifiers, but they also help improve the health of all vital organs, boost energy levels and achieve glowing skin.

Think before you drink. There's nothing like drinking an icy cold drink on a warm spring day! Unfortunately though, many of our refreshing favourites such as chilled smoothies, frozen slurpees, and iced teas can contain excessive amounts of sugar that hardly even keep you full. Instead, products such as USANA's Nutrimeal™ are great ways to enjoy a refreshing drink without the extra calories.

Spring clean your surroundings. An organised room or office space means you'll actually be able to find something when you want it. Not only does giving your personal spaces a thorough clean help with allergies over the spring season, but spending your time in a streamlined space has also been proven to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

Protect yourself. After the cooler months your body's immune system is likely quite weak. To get your immunity back on track, and to support and maintain a healthy functioning system all year around, use USANA's Proglucamune tablets, and incorporate additional booster foods such as raw garlic and carrots into your diet.

Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet. Use only as directed. Always read the label.

To view the full range of USANA Health Sciences nutritional, weight management and personal care products visit www.usana.com.

USANA Health Sciences was founded in 1992 in the United States by microbiologist and immunologist, Dr Myron Wentz. The products are backed by an accredited team of scientific experts and USANA has been awarded a 5-star rating for its nutritional products – the highest of any available in Australia in the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements (4th Ed) by Lyle McWilliam, an independent Canadian biochemist.