Good Advice For Cold Weather

Keep these nutrition guidelines in mind when planning cold-weather meals:

Extra protein is needed to repair tissue damage in sore, overworked muscles. Sore muscles are a natural result of any new or occasional strenuous activity such as shoveling.

Avoid alcohol if you will be outdoors in the cold. Alcohol should not be used as a way to warm up. It dilates blood vessels close to the skin and causes more heat to be lost.

Avoid too much caffeine. It you have a cardiac or stress-related condition, caffeine increases the risk of heart attack during strenuous activities such as shoveling.

Avoid overeating if you are housebound and inactive. People stuck indoors are apt to eat more and cook more in addition to not getting as much exercise as usual.

Keep a good diet balance, with fats under 30 percent of calories, even when calorie intake increases along with activity.