Staying Healthy This Winter
Whether you suffer from a chronic illness or not, staying healthy, and keeping your family healthy, in the wintertime seems to be so much harder than it is in the summer. There are coughs and colds everywhere, our joints and muscles ache when we get up in the morning, overindulge over the holidays leads to stomach upsets and bugs, and being in such close quarters as we hunker down indoors means that the spread of disease is faster and easier than when we are all outdoors and have our windows open at home.
While coughs and colds can never be avoided entirely, there are things that you can do to prevent them as much as possible, and more importantly, to give yourself the best chance of a fast recovery when you do succumb.
Invest in Your Health
In the UK, we’re lucky enough to have free healthcare. But, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t investments that you can make in your health. Private insurance like options at this website can be worthwhile if you need specific care or just extra reassurance. Stocking up on cold and flu relief and immunity boosting vitamins is also a great idea.
Check Your Diet
Vitamin boosts and supplements are great in the winter when you need a little extra to help you to fight off bugs and viruses. But, there’s a lot that you can do with your diet. In fact, if you are eating well, you should be getting all of the vitamins and minerals that you need without the need to take anything extra. Generally speaking, if you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, getting protein from dairy, eggs and white meat, avoiding greasy, fatty foods and processed foods, you should be getting what you need. But, for extra immune-boosting vitamin C, opt for citrus fruits like oranges and green veg like broccoli and spinach.
It’s also a good idea to watch your alcohol intake, making sure that you have at least two days a week where you don’t drink at all, and that you only drink in moderation if you do. Instead, drink lots of water to give your body a helping hand flushing out toxins and bugs.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
You might have had a pretty busy few months with late-night Christmas shopping and wrapping, money worries keeping you awake and even festive nights out. While this is all good fun at the time, it can hurt your health, especially if you fail to get enough sleep for a sustained period.
Sleep is your bodies chance to rest and recover. Without enough of it, your body doesn’t get a chance to repair itself from the stresses of everyday life. It never starts a day at it’s best, and it finds it harder to keep you healthy and stay strong. If you want to stay healthy this winter, a few early nights and plenty of sleep and rest is one of the best things that you can do for yourself.
Trust Your Instincts
Many of us are guilty of just ignoring the warning signs and trying to carry on. If you feel something coming on, get some rest, take some medicine and let yourself relax. If you think it’s more serious, see your doctor.
Namaste xxx
(contributed post)
