There are many great things about winter: hot apple cider, New Year and presents, snuggling up under a warm blanket with a good book, building a snowman with your kids, seeing your neighbourhood transformed into a pristine white wonderland on the night of first snowfall, and all the winter sports that are so fun to play on family vacations. Sadly, winter is also the flu season, and being stuck at home with a stuffy nose and six litres of tea and chicken soup is a bit of a bummer. To fight the freezing cold and avoid sick days we’ve got a few tips ready for you that will help you stay as fit as a fiddle.
Pay attention to hygiene
The most important part of prevention is hygiene. Wash your hands with warm water and soap frequently, and avoid touching your nose, eyes, or ears too much with dirty hands. Showering is important too, but you don’t want to shower every day because long, frequent showers with hot water can actually dry out and weaken your skin and hair. Also, those antibacterial gels are absolutely not a substitute for good old water and soap, and some experts even believe they are harmful for you in the long run.
Exercise regularly
Nothing builds endurance quite like regular exercise, and couch potatoes are a lot more likely to get sick than those who love going to the gym. However, the gym is hardly the only place where you can get fit. Feel free to work out at home with an elliptical, a treadmill, or a stationary bike, or just get a couple of weights and enjoy exercising with your favourite music blasting in your headphones. Winter is also the perfect time to try out skiing and other sports because you’ll have a ton of fun and build up your stamina at the same time.
Eat a nutritious diet
The best way to fight a cold is to make sure you don’t get sick in the first place. Since prevention is the key to health, eating well can really help you stay fit this winter. Home-cooked meals should be your go-to every day, and make sure to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables to get all the useful, immune-boosting nutrients. Supplements are also a great idea, especially daily multivitamin mixes that you can take with your breakfast. Try something like the Floradix Multivitamin formula and cut down on processed foods and sugar.
Drink less alcohol
Alcohol consumption can easily lead to a weakened immune system, and you’re especially vulnerable while nursing a hangover. Even drinking in moderation can be bad for your health, so try to abstain as much as you can. Of course, holidays are coming and most of us plan to just relax and have fun with friends and a bottle of wine, and that’s perfectly fine. Simply make sure you don’t overdo it and that you have enough time to get a good night’s sleep to help your body recover.
Don’t wait to catch a cold to drink tea
Many nations drink tea as a part of their culture, and there’s really no need to wait for a cold to come knocking on your door to be able to indulge in it. Herbal teas are great immunity-boosters, and green tea is so chock-full of antioxidants that you simply can’t go wrong if you drink a cup or two daily. Ginseng and chamomile are also great at warding off the flu, and if you want a really healthy and delicious elixir, try this easy recipe: peel some ginger root and put it to boil, then add freshly-squeezed lemon juice, honey, and a hint of cinnamon. You’ll have the perfect tasty winter tea to keep you both warm and healthy.
Stay home
If you’re already sick, then simply stay at home and rest. Dragging around a cold for weeks happens when you don’t give yourself enough time to recover, and it’s much better to simply stay put for a couple of days than to go to work and push yourself and prolong the torture. You’ll infect your coworkers, you won’t do anything productive, and your snotty nose and loud cough will just disrupt everyone’s day. Stay at home, watch TV, read a book, eat hot soup. You can also steam your face above a pot of boiling water filled with herbs (for example rosemary) to clear your nasal passages.
Sleep
Sleep deprivation is serious business. From weakened immunity to problems with memory, focus, and even an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, it’s one of those things we take for granted until it starts causing problems. Your body needs its nightly rest, it needs to recover and gain back its energy, and having a healthy sleeping pattern can make you a lot healthier and help you recover from any disease a lot faster. Get at least seven hours of sleep each night, and ask your doctor for help if you’re plagued by insomnia.
This should be the season of fun holidays, hot drinks, and fuzzy socks. Prepare well by following these tips, and enjoy a healthy, fuss-free winter.
Mia Taylor is a fashion and beauty enthusiast from Sydney and writer for www.highstylife.com. She loves writing about her life experiences. Travelling and enjoying other cultures and their food with her husband is a big part of her life. She is always on the lookout for new trends in fashion and beauty, and considers herself an expert when it comes to lifestyle tips.
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