The Trick To Warm And Soft Winter Hands

It’s time for winter again, and with it we often face dreaded dry, cracked, freezing hands. No reason to dread any longer. Here are some tricks to keeping your most beloved extremities warm and soft before the painful winter elements have their way.

Table of Contents

Start with Nutrition

The best place to start for holistic health, including healthy warm and soft hands, is with nutrition. And there may be some nutritional deficiencies, in addition to the chilly weather, making your hands so cold this winter season. Adjusting your diet for more vitamins and minerals will lead to other healthy benefits too, so don’t skip this step if you’re concerned at all about your health this winter.

Anemia, or an iron deficiency, can be symptomatic in cold hands and feet. The recommended daily iron intake is 8 to 18 mg, while pregnant women require even more. Consider eating more spinach to get some extra iron into your diet. Also related to anemia, a lack of vitamin B-12 can also lead to cold hands and feet. This vitamin can be found in meat and dairy products, while nutritional yeast and/or vitamin B-12 supplements are recommended for vegetarians and vegans.

Deficiencies of niacin and magnesium have also been linked to colder than normal hands. Try boosting niacin consumption through beets and sunflower seeds, and magnesium from a variety of sources including tofu, whole grains, nuts, seaweed, and leafy vegetables. There are also emerging theories that recommend increasing citrus consumption to keep your hands warm. Give it a try!

Moisturize Diligently

Petroleum jelly is a standard for many reasons. It’s not loaded with fragrances that can inadvertently dry out skin that you’re trying to moisturize in the first place. Apply petroleum jelly in the morning and night to keep your hands soft and smooth all winter long. And if you’re looking for trickier and less greasy solutions, top hand models recommend hand creams with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, antioxidants, or Shea butter listed in their ingredients.

Wear Gloves Inside and Out

Gloves outside in the icy air are a no-brainer. But also use rubber gloves when washing the dishes or doing other household chores that require excessive wetness. Try coating your hands in olive oil before putting on the gloves. That’s an added bonus!

Sporting Challenges

Outdoor enthusiasts who don’t let the winter chill get in their way face additional challenges taking care of their hands. For runners, cyclists, hikers alike, consider specialized running gloves. There are multiple advantages to layering, in case you face extra windy days or sub-zero conditions. Try starting with a wool glove liner and covering with shell mittens. Not only with the extra moisture be absorbed this way, preventing dry skin, but the layer of warm air between the two gloves can keep your hands warm even on the longest trails.

Eco-Friendly Options

As mentioned before, olive oil can substitute as a fantastic moisturizer in place of synthetic chemical cosmetics. Additionally, try scrubbing dry skin patches with a mixture of sugar and dried coconut for an extra moisture boost.

And if eco-friendly is your priority, stay clear of disposable hand warmers. Stuff your pockets with foil wrapped baked potatoes before venturing out into the cold and be rewarded with warm hands and a snack. Or consider going crafty and making your own eco-friendly rice bag hand warmers.

[toggle title=”Featured images”]

Image by Smart Photo Stock

[/toggle]

Thisguest post was written and submitted by Simon a well know guest poster, who has publishedon more tha 200 blogs all over. You can check out his ramblings at Simon’s personal blog.