With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the incoming winter could have you feeling anxious. Aside from having to protect yourself against the routine flu season, you now have to worry about contracting the novel coronavirus. If you’re wondering how you can stay healthy this winter, we’ve provided a few suggestions to implement in your daily routine. These actions will boost your immune system to ensure it’s stronger than ever.
Practice Good Hygiene
If there’s one thing the coronavirus has taught us, it’s the importance of washing your hands. During the winter season, it’s imperative to your well-being. You already wash your hands frequently; however, with cold weather quickly approaching, you’ll want to increase your efforts. Washing your hands often will keep you safe from COVID-19, the flu, and other respiratory infections.
Stay Active
It’s no secret that regular exercise is great for your well-being. Aside from controlling weight and building muscle, exercise also benefits your overall health. When you engage in a healthy and active lifestyle, your body becomes stronger, and this in turns boosts your immune system. And when you do get sick, an active lifestyle can encourage your body to recover more quickly.
Eat Healthy
To reap the benefits of exercise, it’s also important to eat healthily. The foods that go in your body can improve the quality of your immune system by strengthening it and provide the vitamins and antioxidants your body needs. Various foods are known to fight off illness. These foods include:
- Chicken soup
- Garlic
- Herbs and spices
- Mushrooms
Stay Hydrated
You may notice yourself drinking less water in the winter than in the summer. This is likely because the warm weather makes you sweat and crave water. The cold season does the opposite to your body, tricking your mind into believing you’re not thirsty, which can cause you to become dehydrated. This can negatively affect your body in several ways. To prevent dehydration this winter, drink plenty of water, even when you’re not feeling particularly thirsty.
Always Bundle Up
Your mother warned you about getting sick if you didn’t bundle up. Cold weather can’t directly make you sick, but due to the dry air, the cold weather can encourage the spread of viruses. Being cold can also weaken your immune system. As cold, dry air reaches your nasal passages, it can create an entryway for harmful germs.
Get a Flu Shot
The last way you can stay healthy this winter is to get your flu shot. With no end in sight to the pandemic, now is not the time to skip out on this routine vaccine. Getting sick with the flu could make you more vulnerable to COVID-19. You can prevent this by prioritizing your annual flu shot; it’ll keep you feeling your best.
Now that you know how you can stay healthy this winter, you can get out and enjoy the weather. Despite the snow and cold air, the season can bring beautiful sights to your city. Go ice skating or sledding. The important thing is to make the most of your winter wonderland.
