Top 10 Health Tips for a Healthy Fall Season

The days are getting shorter and the morning air is getting crisper; the fall season is upon us! It's time to stow away the swim wear and shorts and trade them in for sweaters and flannel. This new season has both delicious seasonal produce and amazing sights and smells to be had. Think of this new season as a fresh start to new and old healthy habits. So let's celebrate this new season like a health pro and make this your healthiest fall season yet! 

To help you become a fall health pro this season, here are the top ten health tips for this season. 

1. Get outside and soak up those rays!

Just because the days are getting shorter doesn't mean the sun goes away, it's still there. Being outside not only exposes you to fresh air, it allows your body to produce much needed vitamin D. When the rays of the sun hit our skin our body goes into Vitamin D production mode. This vitamin is important for many functions within your body from bone health to your immune system. As an added bonus vitamin D has the ability to boost your mood! Bright fall colours, crunchy leaves beneath your feet and the sun on your face; who wouldn't be super happy with that? 

2. Drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. 

During the fall season the air starts to become drier and cooler. That dry and cold air can sap the moister from your body if you allow it. That's why it's important to stay hydrated throughout the day. Your body is around 60% water with some of your organs being upwards of 80% water. The key takeaway is, your body needs adequate water to function optimally. Keep your body hydrated and your body will thank you. Now water is always the best source for our hydration, but a great alternative for this season is a warm cup of your favourite tea. Just remember ditch the sugary drinks such as pop and fruit juice. The massive amount of sugar they contain is not worth the hydration they provide. 

3. Buy in season local fruits and vegetables.

Fall is one of the best seasons to buy many of your fruits and vegetables in season. After all it is harvest season! Head to your local farmers market and you will see a cornucopia of in season fruits and vegetables. Buying them in season and locally means that you are able to obtain cheaper fresh produce that is more nutrient dense then those that had to travel long distances. This also means that they didn't have to get covered in chemicals to make them last longer. 

4. Dress in layers to stay warm.

The thing with colder weather is you can always take off a layer when you get to warm. Our bodies are very good at regulating our temperature, but during the season we are often exposed to extreme changes in temperature, like going from a warm coffee shop to a cold outdoors. This shocking sensation is just that, a shock to your body. Your body nor your immune system likes that very much. By staying warm both your body and immune system will thank you. 

5. Continue to exercise and stay active!

Just because summer is over doesn't mean you need to give up on all those exercise goals you've been working on. In fact if you haven't started those exercise goals, fall is a great season to start! Fall provides you with a variety of exercise options to stay active. To cold outside? Head indoors to your local gym or try out something new. I hear hot yoga is a great way to stay warm and active this season. That being said, you don't have to stay indoors. Hit the trails or grab a bike and explore this sights and sounds fall has to offer. Even better, grab some friends and join an intramural sports team! 

6. Eat mindfully.

Simply put, enjoy your food, don't inhale it, fall is the season of Thanksgiving, fresh pies and warm cider after all. It becomes very easy to over indulge ourselves and forget to pay attention to what we are putting into our bodies. By becoming mindful to what we are eating we can enjoy all the delicious foods this season has to offer with out the fear of adding 10 lbs. of turkey weight to our bodies. It's all about moderation and enjoying your food. Savour the tastes because they are amazing this season. 

7. Wash your hands with soap and water. 

As much as we want to stay outdoors this season we will often be confined to the indoors more then we were in the summer. Combine this with flu season and you create an environment for the easy spread of germs. A quick and easy way to prevent this is to wash your hands with simple soap and water. Believe it or not, this is more effective at preventing the spread of germs then those liquid alcohol gels that have become so popular. 

8. Be sure to get a full nights sleep, but don't over sleep. 

Quality sleep is a essential element of healthy living.  When we sleep, our body has a chance to rest and restore both physically and mentally.  Without adequate sleep, we are more prone to a host of health problems including chronic disease, inflammation, irritation, and mental fatigue. With changes in day light it's easy to have our sleep rhythm thrown off and either over sleep or under sleep. It's important to make sure you are getting those 6-8 hours of sleep a night. Get into a regular sleep pattern and make sleep a priority. You'll thank yourself as you wake up with the energy and positive attitude to take on the day! 

9. Scare off those candy cravings.

With Halloween around the corner it's very easy to end up with a stockpile of various tempting candies. Candies are easy to consume in mass without even realizing it. This can spike your insulin levels leaving you sluggish and feeling sick. But fear not, there are ways to avoid this fate! If you buy candy for trick-or-treaters, buy only enough for the kids. When you go out and buy the candy wait until the week of Halloween so it isn't left haunting you for a month. When you bring the candy home keep it out of sight. Now if you feel that candy is still calling you from the beyond, ditch it all together. Instead of candy get fun gifts for the trick-or-treaters such as pirate eye patches, bracelets or temporary tattoos.  

10. Slow down, spend time to self reflect.

Fall is a great time to look inwards. Things tend to start to slow down in nature during the fall and it's important we follow nature. It's important to listen to our body, and that inner voice. Take time to reflect on the year so far. Hash out some future goals or update current ones. Check in with yourself and get to know you a little better. Reflect on the various experiences you had during the summer and how they've shaped you. A great way to accomplish this is with the use of a journal. If you put your thoughts to paper it will allow you to visualize them, creating something you can reflect back on.