No matter how much you love winter, you dread the runny nose and sore throat it causes. You feel like being tied to the bed all day long and gladly compromise your morning fitness regime. There’s always a likelihood of you catching a cold or the flu. Well, don’t worry, you are not alone since many individuals suffer the same.
But here’s the thing: Our lack of preparation and failure to take simple measures bring sickness, not the chilly climate. Thankfully, with a couple of simple immunity-boosting practices, you can avoid the miseries of cold weather.
Control humidity
You must preserve humidity under control at all costs since, believe it or not, decreased humidity has a detrimental influence on our health. Particulates from sneezing, snorting, spitting, etc., split down into tiny bits that float in the air and are breathed by others. As a result, germs from the ill person are transferred to the healthy person, and everyone in the family catches the flu one by one.
If, on the other hand, the air isn’t dry and there’s the right amount of humidity, these bits remain unchanged. They destroy themselves by hitting the ground, causing no harm to others. Be prepared by testing, adjusting, and balancing the airflow of your home’s HVAC system before the arrival of winter to ensure the right warmth, airflow, and moisture indoors.
Exercise daily
I’m sure everyone is aware of the potential health benefits of regular exercise. Yet, many of us do not engage in it, either due to tiredness or a lack of time. But it is high time for you to take control of your life and make it a regular habit. Workout, go cycling, run, jog, or even play sports; any physical exercise would suffice because physical activities generate body heat, which provides much-needed warmth in the winter and also eliminates impurities through sweating.
Believe me when I say that a regular exercise regimen may help keep not just the common cold and flu at bay but also stress, inflammation, and chronic illnesses. Additionally, it stimulates the circulation of white blood cells, which fight disease-causing bacteria. Hence, improved immunity ensures optimum health.
Make dietary modifications
Since the days are dark and gloomy throughout the winter, it is impossible to absorb vitamin D from sunshine. As a result, you must make the appropriate dietary modifications to ensure that your body receives an adequate supply of vitamin D and protein. Include egg yolks, cheese, salmon, yogurt, mushrooms, cow’s milk, beef liver, margarine, canned tuna, tofu, etc., in your diet or take supplements. Such modifications are essential to strengthen the immune system of your body.
Ensure proper hygiene
The secret to staying healthy is to avoid invisible germs. This may be done by doing the following.
- Make a habit of washing hands before and after eating food.
- Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue before sneezing and coughing.
- Wash your hand before anything that brings you in contact with your eyes, such as putting on contact lenses.
- Always carry alcohol-based sanitizer handy to disinfect shared surfaces.
- Do not go a day without a shower, no matter how lazy or chilled you are. It’s best to take a hot water bath daily.
Get enough sleep
You must get enough sleep of at least 8 hours only then your body resists the viruses and flu. This is because good sleep results in releasing a particular protein called cytokines that regulate the immune system and fight infection.
Relax yourself
Physical and mental health are deeply linked. Stress, worry, and depression, among other things, harm physical health, causing tiredness and a weakened immune system. As a result, it is critical to maintain your mental health by practicing yoga and meditation.
Say no to alcohol
Alcohol isn’t good for your health in any way, so it’s best to avoid it if you want to stay in good shape and live a long life. In terms of winter flu, alcohol intake harms the body’s dendritic cells, a crucial component of the immune system. You expose yourself to viral infections and diseases. Therefore, drinking alcohol is a no-no, not just in the winter but forever.
No sharing of personal things
Did you know that infections may dwell on things for 24 hours, giving germs ample time to spread throughout the family? Therefore, it is advised that, in addition to disinfecting shared objects, items such as towels, drinking glasses, and toothbrushes be kept personal, i.e., not shared with others.
Staying healthy means being watchful and proactive by adhering to all of these measures alongside staying hydrated. Additionally, you do not want yourself or your family to become ill as a result of negligence.
