Wrap up warm, don’t fall into the winter blues and stay healthy: The cold season demands a lot from us. But you also have more time to play live poker online. We have to think about our well-being – but of course also about the environment. That’s why you’d better avoid the following winter mistakes. There are long and dark months until spring – reason enough to make them as pleasant as possible. But whether it’s choosing winter fashion, buying groceries, getting to work or your own health: many people harm themselves or the environment with their behavior. We show you the most common winter mistakes and how to avoid them.
THE PERFECT PLAN
1. winter mistake: prevent colds incorrectly.
Rosehip tea helps ward off viruses that can cause a cold, for example. If you do not want to catch a cold, you should not rely on the effect of dietary supplements.
Even if the name of the ailment suggests otherwise: The cold in winter is not the real cause of a cold – but viruses. Grandmother’s advice to dress only yes always nice and warm, nevertheless has its justification: Because if the body is already struggling with pathogens, the icy temperatures put an additional strain on the immune system.
To prevent infections, some people take dietary supplements such as vitamin C or zinc tablets. But according to the German Nutrition Society (DGE), there is no scientific proof that these products help prevent or even cure colds: Although an insufficient supply of these nutrients can make people more susceptible to infections, the reverse conclusion – taking extra in the form of tablets prevents – is not true. Often the preparations are also overdosed.
To get enough vitamin C and zinc, a balanced and healthy diet is sufficient. Winter vegetables such as kale, Brussels sprouts or white cabbage, for example, are good sources of vitamin C in the cold season, foods such as whole grains or legumes provide zinc (enjoyed in moderation: also organic milk, organic cheese and organic eggs).
If you really want to effectively prevent a cold, you should pay attention to the following things in addition to your diet: It is important to get enough sleep, because studies have shown that less than six hours of restful sleep increases the risk of an infection. Also avoid chronic stress and alcohol, because both slow down the immune system.
2. winter mistakes: winter fashion sins.
The desire to arm yourself from the cold with the right clothes is more than understandable. But when buying your winter coat, you shouldn’t make the mistake of supporting unnecessary animal suffering.
If you look closely, you can distinguish between fake fur and real fur, for example chinchilla fur. A mistake you should avoid: Buying winter coats with fur trim.
So, many jackets and coats have fashionable fur trim on the collar, sleeves or in the form of decorative pompons. And it is not always artificial fur – even if the declaration claims otherwise. Stiftung Warentest, among others, came to this conclusion. Real fur from China is often cheaper than the synthetic alternative, which is only possible because no attention is paid to animal welfare, fair wages and environmental protection during production. Since incorrect labeling has so far hardly resulted in any consequences, the only thing that helps is: to examine the products themselves, for example by blowing or pulling them apart.
Down jackets are also ethically questionable because the soft feathers are often obtained by live plucking. This is associated with great agony for the animals. But there are some manufacturers in the fashion and outdoor industries that do not use live plucking and stuffing for down and can demonstrate exemplary supply chains. So buying sustainable down jackets is definitely possible.
3. winter mistake: Eat like in summer
Among the most fiber-rich fruits are apples, pears and numerous types of berries. Winter mistake: A fresh fruit salad provides many vitamins, but in winter you should reach for other varieties.
In the cold season, the supply of regional fruits and vegetables shrinks – but not that of the lush displays in the supermarket. Strawberries that taste like nothing and watery tomatoes rarely end up in the shopping basket, but what about summer vegetables like zucchini for stir-fry? Or with the grapes, which since November no longer come from Germany, but are flown in from Brazil, for example?
If you find yourself frequently making mistakes in winter, let me remind you once again: If we don’t buy seasonally, we are accepting dependence on imports and the climate impact of long-distance transport. So it’s definitely worth expanding your culinary horizons and trying out new recipes with tasty winter vegetables from the region.
