With cold and flu season approaching, it’s time to start thinking about the necessary precautions you’ll need to take to stay healthy. Fend off the flu with these helpful tips for how to avoid getting sick during the winter.
Take vitamin D supplements
As the days grow shorter and the sun begins to fade, your body begins to produce less vitamin D. Sunlight is your body’s main source of vitamin D, and as you move into the darker winter months, the risk of developing a sickness related to vitamin D deficiency increases. Over time, vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone softening, and it may impede your body’s ability to produce and absorb calcium; this could lead to osteomalacia or osteoporosis. Taking daily vitamin D supplements will help reduce the likelihood that you’ll develop a vitamin D deficiency, and they can ensure your body continues to get the proper nutrients throughout the long winter.
Get some fresh air
It may seem counterintuitive, but stepping outside for a bit of fresh air is actually a great way to avoid getting sick during the winter. Staying cooped up inside all winter puts you at a greater risk to contract the germs of everyone else that also elected to stay indoors. For a temporary reprieve from these germs, head outside to embrace the winter wonderland. Just be sure to button up your overcoat and grab your gloves and scarf.
Practice good hygiene
If you plan to hunker down and wait out the winter from the comfort of your home, make sure to keep things clean. Washing your hands regularly, and sterilizing them with alcohol-based sanitizer, will help kill germs and decrease the likelihood of spreading germs to others. Get into the practice of washing your hands before every meal and after returning home to kill any germs you may have picked up while out and about.
Exercise
Winter is the perfect season for snuggling up beside a warm fire, so heading to the gym may be the last thing on your mind. Regular exercise, however, can actually help your body stave off illnesses during the winter. Exercising helps strengthen your body’s immune system, and it can even decrease the risk of respiratory infections. Engaging in a bit of light exercise every day will reduce the chances you’ll develop a cold—it may even help you keep off a bit of that pesky winter weight.
Maintain a balanced diet
Bolster your immune system, and ensure your body receives the proper nutrients, by maintaining a balanced diet throughout the winter. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables will provide you with important vitamins and nutrients that can help your body fight off viruses. Staying well-hydrated during the winter can also help strengthen your immune system.
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