No, you don’t have to be as resilient as my old boy Indi! He must be getting some benefits from it though, otherwise why would he want to lay down in the snow?
I’ve had quite a few questions about this topic. It’s certainly something I grappled with returning to the UK after 13 years in Mauritius! It was easy and natural to do these things living in a tropical country and it was definitely a shock to the system coming back to winter in the UK. Implementing these practices has made all the difference to me and I’m much more relaxed moving into my third winter here. Here are the priorities for optimizing your health this winter:
🌍 Grounding: Electrons and Cellular Communication
It’s still important to ground to absorb electrons directly from the earth for inflammation & pain, sleep, stress & mood. It’s also key for cellular health and maintaining the structured water in our cells, carrying information and energy throughout our bodies. Even in winter, brief grounding sessions (hands or feet on grass, stone, concrete, plants or trees) are important. If you haven’t been doing it and are just starting now, you can microdose it and slowly build up. Even a minute here and there makes a difference. However, you will be happy to know that there are other ways to ground indoors in the winter too. If you have a concrete floor in your basement or garage that will work. And, you can ground with water too! So a nice hot bath, shower, or even washing the dishes counts. It has a cumulative effect so be creative throughout your day.
☀️ Light: Sunlight, Mitochondria, and Circadian Balance
Morning sunlight is essential for circadian rhythm & sleep, mitochondrial health/energy production, hormone balancing, and mood regulation. Shorter days can make that more of a challenge in some parts of the world. Rather than getting your sunlight in the first hour after sunrise before you go to work, you may have to sungaze for a few minutes when you arrive at work, outside during a break, or even open a window to look outside for that full spectrum light and all its benefits. Unfortunately, today’s glass blocks the benefits.
Red light panels may be soothing for some but they are not a replacement for all the benefits that morning sun provides. And remember that they should be used during daylight hours so that melatonin production for sleep is not disrupted.
The longer winter nights provide benefits too with more time for the body to run major repair programs. We also need to prioritize the dark to avoid the metabolic disruptions that artificial lights can cause. Don’t keep too many bright lights on before sunrise and after dark. Use more muted lighting and lamps vs overhead lights, light fires, use natural candles (not scented), go to bed earlier – this is the rest & restore time of the year. Some even find it helpful to replace LED bulbs (signalling the middle of the day) with incandescent or other circadian friendly bulbs as well as using blue blocker glasses before sunrise, after dark, and with screen use.
🥘 Food: Seasonal Nutrients and Mitochondrial Fuel
In the cold, the body activates brown fat, a special fat that burns calories to produce heat and increase your energy efficiency. Why not take advantage of this time to lose a few pounds – but watch that overindulgence during the holidays! Our cells and microbiome respond best to seasonal, local foods that match our environment. Winter foods like root vegetables, stews, and fermented foods support that energy production. Foods rich in DHA (like cold-water fish) are also good in winter, as DHA helps cells communicate with sunlight and supports cellular function in low-light months. I love my weekly organic box with what is in season locally.
💧 Hydration: Molecular Structure and Cellular Health
From Quantum Biology, we know that the water in our cells and fascia isn’t like what we drink. It’s a special structured, crystalized water that carries information and energy throughout our bodies. In winter, lower humidity, central heating, and more time in artificial lights dehydrate us at that cellular level. Not only do we need to drink more pure water but we need to take more breaks and go outside for the hydrating action of sunlight. I’ve already started noticing my lips getting dryer and have increased my water and breaks.
Cold exposure stimulates immune function, reduces inflammation, and improves mental clarity. Let’s take advantage of these benefits and the principles above to make the most of this season. Enjoy your summer my friends in Mauritius and Australia but I’m looking forward to sitting by the fire with a nice cup of tea and a family chat.
