Winter Running Nutrition and Safety - She Runs Eats Performs

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Published on:

6th Jan 2022

Winter Running Nutrition and Safety

Winter Running Nutrition and Safety

Do you ever consider your nutrition for your winter running? As the nights draw in, the mornings get darker and the days get colder do you think about what foods and nutrients you may need to keep you healthy as you run through the winter months? In this episode we look at some key nutrients for you to consider, helping keep your immune system in Optimal Health. The nutrients we discuss are:

  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Magnesium
  • Omega 3
  • Beta-glucans

But as well as the nutrients you may wish to consider, we also give you some practical tips to help keep you safe and warm as you head out the door on those cold winter mornings including:

  • Remaining visible
  • Foot wear
  • Layering up
  • Omitting risk

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  1. There are many nutrients to consider to help keep you healthy during the winter months, however our 5 principal ones are: Vitamin C and D, Magnesium, Omega-3 and Beta-Glucans.
  2. These 5 key nutrients have many diverse roles in health and wellbeing, but they are all important in supporting immune health
  3. Remember that women are more susceptible to autoimmune conditions. So a good reason to try and maintain optimal immune health all year round, but especially during the winter months. 
  4. There are daily Recommended Nutrition Intake levels for most nutrients set out by UK govt bodies, however these are set at levels known to prevent illness in the majority of people, they are not recommended optimal intake levels. 
  5. Remember that certain nutrients can be lost from food through exposure to air, cooking methods and other factors so be mindful of this when considering your daily intake of key nutrients for your winter running.
  6. Moving away from food and nutrients and thinking about the practicalities of winter running. It is important that we take extra precautions when running outside, both for our safety and for our health. 
  7. Ensure you can see and be seen. Run in well-lit areas wherever possible and consider wearing a high-viz jacket and head torch. 
  8. Keep warm, especially if going out for a long run. Wear layers as you can always take them off and tie them round your waist. Remember to take a hat and gloves, remember exposure of the head and face are thought to account for a large proportion of body heat loss.
  9. Finally, don’t take risks, if the weather or environmental conditions are not conducive to safe running then keep active doing another sport for a short while e.g. swimming, gym, treadmill, spinning
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About the Podcast

She Runs Eats Performs
for mid-life female runners of all abilities
Are you confused about the science around nutrition for runners? Listen in to learn about the WHY, HOW, WHAT, and WHEN of eating to fuel your running performance.

We are here to help you translate sports nutritional science, into easy to apply tips and plans, helping you enjoy peak running performance. We focus on the FEMALE FACTORS every mid-life woman needs to know to be a healthy runner.

About your host

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Aileen Smith

Aileen Smith is a UK based Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, host at She Runs Eats Performs podcast, author of EAT TO RUN: Fast Meal Planning and Easy Fuelling for Busy Women (due to publish September 2024).

Aileen discovered the joy and the challenges of being a mid-life recreational runner in her late 40’s.

She helps busy women who want to swap magic bullet advice for real food so they can be in great shape, have high energy (for everything in life), enjoy their running and be injury-free.