Brits in the dark about winter nutrition
Winter is well and truly in full swing, so it’s unsurprising that almost 90% of Britons admit that the season has a negative effect – making us stay at home more (50%), struggling to get out from under the duvet (33%), eating more comfort food (32%) or exercising less (30%).
According to new research by Florida grapefruit, almost 80% of the nation believes that pasta, potatoes or bread provide us with the all the vitamins we should be getting and nearly one in ten believes that wine can also provide the recommended amount of nutrients.
The data shows that nearly 60% of people in fact claim they pay more attention to their health and wellbeing over the winter months than at any other time of year. However, it would appear that us Brits are clueless when it comes to knowing just how to do this.
The research reveals that
Only 5% of us eat the right amounts of fruit and vegetables during the winter months, compared to 53% in the summer, and 84% of us are less likely to consume our recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day when the cold kicks in.
Renowned nutritionist, Juliette Kellow, says: “This research confirms that we tend to eat less fruit and vegetables in the winter months, making it even harder for us to get the recommended 5-a-day, and in turn affecting our intake of certain vitamins and overall wellbeing. Adding ‘sunshine-drenched’ foods such as Florida grapefruit to our diet is a great choice for meeting recommended levels of vitamin C daily – and helping to give us a taste of summer during the dark, cold days of winter.”
She continues, “Throughout the winter, it’s especially important for us to support a healthy immune system, the body’s natural mechanism to resist illnesses. Vitamin C, which is found in in citrus fruits, can help support a healthy immune system and has the added benefit of helping to reducing tiredness and fatigue.”
The gloomy British weather can also lead to a well-known and proven condition – SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). With almost 10% of people saying they’ve bought a SAD lamp to help make them feel better in the winter, the condition is on the increase.
Getting more sleep (29%) and going on holiday (11%) are other tried and tested winter-gloom busters, however, over a third of the nation (33%) have never tried anything to combat the winter blues.
Juliette Kellow’s Top Tips on beating the winter gloom:
1. Consume recommended vitamin C levels daily
It’s a myth that large doses of vitamin C stop you getting coughs and colds. But making sure you get enough nutrients in your diet, such as vitamin C, is important to help support your immune system not only in winter, but all year long Vitamin C isn’t just important for the normal functioning of the immune system. It also may help contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
2. Fill your kitchen with sun-drenched foods
Nothing will remind you more of summer than filling your kitchen with ingredients that typically need lots of sunshine to grow.
3. Get griddling and grilling
Barbecues are a favourite pastime in the UK, with families holding increasing numbers every year. Griddling and grilling are healthy ways to cook food, whatever time of year. Bring that summery barbecue feeling into your kitchen – and onto your dining table.
4. Make meals lighter
We tend to eat more in the colder months, particularly more carbs. Our calorie intake also increases, making us more prone to weight gain[1] [2] [3]. When the weather is cold and miserable, many of us fill up on carb-loaded comfort foods, whereas in the summer we’re far more likely to eat salads and fruit! Eating more like you would in the warmer weather will help to bring back that summer feeling.
5. Eat more foods rich in the sunshine vitamin
Our bodies make vitamin D when skin is exposed to sunlight. In winter – when there’s less sun and the rays are much weaker – we make far less of this vitamin, which is key for maintaining the health of our bones, teeth, muscle function and immune system[4]. So during the dark, cold months of winter, it’s really important to top up our vitamin D levels by eating more foods rich in this nutrient such as oily fish, dairy products and cereals.
Florida grapefruit has also teamed up with celebrity Master Chef winner Liz McClarnon to create some delicious, “sunshine-drenched” recipes using Florida grapefruit that are guaranteed to inject a bit of brightness into the gloomy winter days:
Florida grapefruit fajita platter with sunny salsa
Florida grapefruit, lime and mint sorbet
Pork and Florida grapefruit Moroccan tagine
Festive honey, mustard and Florida grapefruit ham
Easy Florida grapefruit, prawn and chilli noodles
Head to facebook.com/FloridaGrapefruit for these recipes and more information.