It’s December again and that means winter is coming! So put on warm clothes in the morning, scratch your car window before you go to work and stay home on the couch in the evening because it’s too cold to go outside. To look for the snow, a lot of people are already planning a holiday. Because winter is also there for… Winter sports! Very nice to ski or snowboard all day, but how does it actually affect your health? Winter sports place high demands on your body. Not only because you are working out hard all day, but also because you can have to deal with strong winds, snow and extreme cold. It is therefore important to take good care of yourself in order not to get sick. Below are a few tips to help you with that.

Drink enough water

To warm up after skiing, order a hot chocolate rather than a glass of water. Still, it is very important to drink enough water between the slopes. The lymphatic system, made up of vessels, tracts and glands, repel bacteria and viruses in the body. In order for the lymphatic system to do its job properly, a good fluid balance is necessary. Therefore, hydrate your body sufficiently by drinking enough water. If you also participate in the après ski in the evening, pay extra attention!

Tip: Would you rather not drink a glass of water in the cold? Then order a cup of tea.

Eat healthy

When you’re on vacation, healthy eating isn’t usually the first thing on your mind. Especially not when the people around you feed on rösti’s, schnitzels and cheese fondue. Try to make sure that you eat enough fruit and vegetables. Your resistance can use that extra well if you spend most of the day in sub-zero temperatures. In addition, fruits and vegetables give you natural energy due to the naturally present sugars.

Tip : Buy fruit for the whole week from a supermarket and place it on a communal table so that you can see it well. This way you don’t forget to eat it.

Make sure you are dry

If there’s one thing that can make you sick quickly, it’s going out into the cold with wet clothes. Therefore, make sure that you hang your clothes up after skiing or snowboarding so that they can dry. Don’t forget your hat, scarf and gloves. The thick fabric ensures that they dry less quickly. Put them on the heating and then you know for sure that you won’t have wet hands the next day.

Tip : Are you going on winter sports with a large family? Bring (extra) clothes hangers!

If you are sick, take it easy

A bit of avid winter sports enthusiast does not stop skiing when he has a cold or flu. That makes sense, because you want to get the most out of your holiday. However, when the immune system is weakened, your body needs rest to recover. Exercising is even dangerous if you have the flu or fever. The virus can end up in the heart muscle with injury in the form of inflammation as a result. That is why it is important to find out what symptoms you are experiencing. A fever, muscle aches, and a stuffy nose are common symptoms of a cold and don’t necessarily mean you have the flu or are sick. In that case, Capsinol is a good remedy for colds. Do you suffer from sore throat, headache, a runny nose and/or pain in the top of the neck? Then there is a good chance that you do have the flu and then it is wise to take a rest.

Tip : Do you suffer from a sore throat? Apply tiger balm to your throat and you will notice that the pain is soothed. The balm warms the throat, which thins out trapped mucus and clears it from the throat. And of course bring a bottle of Capsinol nasal spray for the nose.

Hopefully, these tips will help you stay healthy during winter sports. Do you also have a tip that you would like to share with other winter sports enthusiasts? Then leave a comment!