1. Exercise regularly
Bundle up, get outside and enjoy the weather! There are plenty of exercises you can do inside at home as well. From sit-ups to yoga, every little bit of exercise can help. But be sure to warm up by stretching before you start your exercise. It can take a little longer than usual for your joints to loosen up in cold weather. Exercise has been proven to help prevent depression and lift your mood if you’re feeling down. Exercise can also help your body fight off sickness.
2. Drink lots of water
It might not be hot outside, but your body still needs water. Remember to drink at least two to three litres of water every day. To help you get enough, pick a large cup, fill it with ice water and take it with you wherever you go. You’ll be surprised how much water you can drink in a day when it’s sitting right next to you. It doesn’t take long to build a healthy habit of drinking water throughout the day if you use this handy tip.
3. Eat healthy foods
Fruits and veggies are always going to be at the top of the list of healthy things to eat. Keep your eyes peeled for winter vegetables when you’re at the market, including carrots, green vegetables and turnips. As for winter fruits, enjoy apples, oranges, and grapefruits.
In addition to your fruits and vegetables, try adding supplements to your diet to improve your immune system to help fight off illness. Garlic, vitamin C, zinc, vitamin B complex and grapefruit seed extract are all good choices to try.
4. Get extra sleep
The average person needs six to eight hours of sleep per night. And if you aren’t getting enough sleep, your body has a harder time fighting off illness. In the winter, our bodies naturally want to sleep more, so give in.
5. Keep your hands clean
Don’t forget that wintertime is flu and cold season. So keep your hands clean. Keep a bottle of hand sanitiser with you to use when you don’t have access to soap and water. When you do wash your hands, remember these five simple steps from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention: That’s wet, lather, scrub, rinse, dry. In case you were wondering, the scrub part of washing your hands should last at least 20 seconds.
Rajneet Kaur
Physiotherapist
