subject: Staying Healthy This Coming Winter [print this page] Staying healthy throughout the cold winter months is not always a simple thing to accomplish. Your immune system is forced to work harder with more viruses going around, and those with children or busy work environments will have an even harder time. Do your best to avoid cold and flu season this winter by following these tips for staying healthy:
Wash Your Hands: Your hands are often the point of contact with the world around you. You use your hands to pick up papers, toys from the floor, eat your meals and more. Because of this, they are often covered in germs, more so than any other part of the body. Do your best to remember to wash your hands not just after trips to the toilet, but also before meals and throughout the day. Using soap and hot water, be sure to spend at least one minute scrubbing your hands clean.
Eat Well: Having a healthy diet can keep your body healthy and able to fight off viruses and infections better than someone with a poor diet. Include a wide variety of foods to make sure you consume all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Be sure that each meal contains some carbohydrates, protein and lots of fruits and vegetables. Whenever possible, bypass the fast food and junk in favor or homemade or quick to prepare meals containing whole ingredients to keep your body in top condition.
Keep Warm: Even in cold winter conditions, you can do your best to keep warm and prevent yourself from getting sick. Electric radiators can be used in the home to warm you up if you don't have adequate heating in the house. Even small electric radiators can increase the temperature significantly in a room, meaning you can stop shivering and warm up quickly. When you are outside in the snow, wear warming socks and a cover over your head in the form of a hat or cap to prevent heat loss from your head.
Sleep Well: Some people eat well, wash their hands and stay warm, but can't understand why they get sick so often. Sleep is sometimes the answer, as a lack of sleep can compromise your immune system. The average adult needs 6-8 sleep per night as a minimum. If you have a habit of sleeping for less during the week, try to maintain a sleep schedule consistently throughout the week. Catching up on sleep over the weekend might feel nice, but it won't help you maintain a proper sleep schedule for your health. Encourage children to sleep anywhere from 8-9 hours, or more if they seem to need it.
By following these tips, you can have a better chance of staying healthy this coming winter. Make sure to wash your hands frequently, eat well at each meal, keep warm in your home with electric radiators if necessary and sleep for up to 8 hours each night to provide adequate rest and keep your immune system working as well as possible.
