The Met Office recommends eating at least one hot meal per day during the winter season (Image: Getty)
Everyone over the age of 55 is being urged to follow a ‘winter meal rule’ as the UK braces itself for another .
is warning of bitter conditions over the coming days as a high pressure weather system sweeps across the country, bringing easterly winds, snow, ice and .
Temperatures are expected to drop as low as -7C in parts of Scotland today (Feb 7), while southern England and rural parts of southern Wales will also experience freezing climes.
Yellow cold health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for parts of England, including the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the South East from 9am on Friday until 9am on Tuesday.
As conditions turn bitter, people are being urged to take precautions to stay healthy in the cold weather as the colder temperatures can become harder on the body as we get older.
According to the , from around the age of 55 we lose around 1 per cent 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.
It means taking measures to protect against the cold during the winter season is vital to fend off common illnesses, such as colds, flu, coughs and , which are often rife at this time of the year.
One easy way to stay healthy when the weather is cold is by following a simple ‘winter meal rule’. The recommends eating at least one hot meal per day and drinking regular hot drinks as this helps 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.