Beat the Winter Bugs by Being Winter Ready
The winter season is slowly creeping in, bringing with it the typical onslaught of colds and flu. So how do you cope with the immune-weakening impact of the chilly season? It turns out it starts with the foods we eat. The food we eat can better arm our body and immune system, leaving you in a better place to fight off the flu and keep you in tip-top shape all year long.
Vitamin C plays a key role when it comes to boosting your immune system. When you are active, your body uses 50% more vitamin C than usual. Under normal conditions, science says that we should supplement with 1000 mg of vitamin C to help reduce the risk of colds and flu and when you’re active, you should increase your vitamin C intake.
Regular exercise also helps keep your immune system healthy, reduces stress and inflammation and keeps white blood cells moving to help your immune system fight infection.
Exercise and good nutrition aren’t the only habits that can help your body operate at its peak. You should also try to get consistent, high-quality sleep and manage your stress levels. Lack of sleep and chronic stress can impair immune function.
Another key to avoiding illness is to reduce your exposure to germs. Practising good hygiene becomes even more important when you are trying to stay healthy.
You should always wash your hands thoroughly before touching or preparing food and before inserting your contact lenses or any other activity that requires you to touch your eyes, face or mouth.
Remember, the single best way to reduce the risk of seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like avoiding crowded places and people who are sick and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like flu.
