Everyone aged over 55 is urged to follow a ‘winter meal rule’ (Image: Getty)
The Met Office is urging everyone over the age of 55 to follow a ‘winter meal rule’ during the colder months.
Much of the UK was last week, with and causing widespread ice.
Temperatures have now creeped back above 0C and snow and ice has started to melt as the comes to an end, but the national forecaster says there are still precautions that should be taken during the winter, particularly among older people.
The UK has an average minimum temperature of 0.9C and experiences around 11.2 days of air frost each month on average, and these chilly climes can become harder on the body as we get older.
According to , from around the age of 55 we lose around 1% of our muscle mass every year and while this may not sound like much, it does mean our bodies have to work much harder to stay warm.
As such, it’s vital to take measures to stay as healthy as possible throughout the winter season to help stave off common illnesses, such as colds, flu, coughs and , which are often rife at this time of the year.
One simple way to protect yourself and stay healthy when the weather is cold is by following a ‘winter meal rule’.
The recommends eating at least one hot meal per day and drinking regular hot drinks as this will help your body to stay warm.
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The forecaster says: “As we get older it becomes harder for our bodies to detect how cold we are, and it takes longer to warm up which can be bad for our health.
“For older people in particular, the longer the exposure to the cold, the more risk of heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia, depression, worsening arthritis and increased accidents at home, associated with loss of strength and dexterity in the hands.
“It is important to keep warm in winter both inside and outdoors. Keeping warm can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems.
“Eating regularly helps keep you warm so try to have at least one hot meal a day along with regular hot drinks.”
It’s also recommended that you keep moving throughout the day, even if you are stuck inside, so you should try not to sit still for more than an hour or so.