As winter sets in, there’s typically a rise in sickness. If you don’t take care of yourself, then it only means you miss out on the fun winter activities. This winter, make your health a priority and do all you can to take care of your body.
Wash Your Hands
Viruses thrive during the wintertime because they are more stable at colder temperatures. It’s more common for contagious diseases to pass from person to person. If you want to avoid getting sick this winter, you need to make sure you are washing your hands often. Washing your hands can keep you healthy if you’ve come in contact with any viruses or bacteria that could keep you sick. If you’re not able to wash your hands right away, avoid touching your face until you can.
Stay Hydrated
Keeping hydrated is an important part of being healthy. It quite literally keeps your body running properly. When you’re hydrated, your joints are well-lubricated so you can move, your body temperature is regulated, and your organs can function well. Staying hydrated also helps your blood to circulate better. This means nutrients are delivered to your body more efficiently and the flu-fighting white blood cells can be circulated through your body quickly. As a general rule, you should drink about an ounce of water for every pound you weigh. This means if you’re 150 lbs then you should drink about 150 ounces of water a day.
Eat Well and Exercise
When your body is healthy, it isn’t as susceptible to sickness. You can keep your body healthy by making sure you eat a balanced diet. Your body needs all the essential vitamins and minerals to function properly. These nutrients can be found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Eating a balanced diet can help you get everything you need. Additionally, exercise can keep your body healthy. When you exercise, you’re strengthening all your muscles and bones. Exercise can also help to flush bacteria from your body. Try to make time for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day.
Get Your Flu Shot
Every year, there’s a new strain of the flu that goes around, so you need to get a new flu shot every year. This shot will expose your body to the flu virus on a very small scale so your body can develop the antibodies to fight it off. If you get your flu shot, then your body will be prepared to handle the flu virus if you come in contact with it at all during the winter. You can go through the whole season knowing your body is well-protected.
Get Some Vitamin D
There are several ways your physical health is affected in the winter, but your mental health should also be a priority for you. In the winter, there is less sunlight during the day and for many people, this can trigger seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which is a type of depression that is more prominent in winter. Even if you aren’t personally affected by SAD, it’s still natural to have occasional bouts of depression or sadness in the winter. To help with this, try to get some more vitamin D in the winter. When possible, spend more time outdoors in the sunlight. You can also take a vitamin D supplement if necessary.
It’s important to maintain your health all year long, but the winter is when people are especially susceptible to getting sick. This winter, stay ahead of things by making a plan to stay healthy. Forming good health habits can make it even easier.
To keep yourself protected, you should get your annual flu shot. Click here to learn more about immunizations available at Premier Family Medical.
