Most people excitedly wait for winter to arrive. But the winters are not all fun. Often in winter, we get confined to our homes because of cough, a runny nose, sore throat, and even fever.
Nobody wants to get a cold, flu, or any other common winter sickness. In this article, you will find some effective winter protection tips on staying safe and healthy in winter.
Ten Daily Habits To Help You Avoid Getting Sick
We talked to the people who rarely get sick in winter to find their habits that keep them safe and healthy in winter. Here we go.
# 1
They drink plenty of water
You have probably heard of the recommendation about drinking enough water – about eight cups per day meet the body’s basic needs. Your body gets ammunition to fight sickness when you drink enough. Conversely, if you don’t drink enough water, which most people do, you destroy the proper functioning of your body’s systems, reducing your immunity to protect you from the winter’s viruses.
# 2
They get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep acts like medicine – it’s healing to your body. There is scientific evidence for that. Researchers from Germany have established that, at times, sleep can be the best medicine to fight complex medical conditions. While we sleep, our immune system protects us from disease-causing pathogens. Insufficient or poor sleep also affects your mood and state of mind the next day, leading to some chronic diseases – such as dementia. Eight hours of sleep is recommended in winter.
# 3
They frequently change their hand towels
Everyone knows the importance of washing hands before eating and after going to the bathroom. But we also need to wash our hands throughout the day not to catch diseases. In addition, there have been many studies in the last few years confirming that towels are the biggest disease spreaders in the home. Especially kitchen towels are the worst, but they are not alone.
Hand towels get bacteria from the individuals who use them, and you, in turn, can catch the bacteria using the same hand towels. That can cause various diseases, including skin infections, digestive and other internal systems damage, and fever.
# 4
They exercise
Exercise plays a crucial role in strengthening the immune system, particularly as you age. At the forefront of any human immune system arsenal are two crucial units – T cells and B cells. As you age, the production of these cells reduces, making your body more exposed to internal and external threats. For example, studies show that moderate to vigorous physical activity decreases the risks of upper respiratory tract infections, such as flu and colds.
# 5
They spend time outdoors
Vitamin D is crucial for immune system health, protection from infection, viral diseases, cancer, and bone strength. The best source of vitamin D is the exposure of your skin to sun rays. Unfortunately, most people are vitamin D deficient, which is potentially due to the modern lifestyle, such as long office hours, prolonged sitting, and heavy use of sunscreen. As we can’t get enough vitamin D from our foods, we may need to spend time outside in the sunlight and/or take vitamin D supplements after consulting our doctor.
# 6
They hang out with friends
People understand the importance of loved ones as they grow old – not just family members but also friends. Many studies have shown that, at times, relationships with friends do more good to your health than relationships with family. These studies found that people were healthier when friendships were solid and supportive.
# 7
They drink hot water and eat hot foods
Drinking plenty of hot water (not too hot), chicken or vegetable soup, and eating hot foods helps your body get stronger and deal with winter illnesses. Hot water and foods warm your body, stimulate blood circulation and invigorate your body in general. It’s a great idea to enjoy a cup of hot tea with cinnamon – a lovable brew or even a cup of hot chocolate to combat cold and liven up your mood.
# 8
Eat healthily
Many studies over the years have analyzed what factors in our lives can improve our immune system functioning. From these studies, we now know our immune system is affected by age, physical activities, surprisingly, even sleep. Although most of all, our diet.
Vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, and nuts enrich your body with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, foods that boost the functioning of your digestive system and intestines (where the immune system is based) like oranges (vitamin C), yogurt (probiotics), and vegetables such as sweet potatoes and pumpkin – can be powerful tools in your arsenal to fight various illnesses.
# 9
They think positively.
Life can not be perfect. However, if you habitually focus more on the good things and less on the bad, you will likely live happily and healthily – and more years. Though not an easy thing to follow in winter because the hours of darkness come very early, and you feel depression slowly creeping in. That can cause you stress and tension, which can have a huge effect on your health.
# 10
They get flu shot
Many people die of the flu every year. Unfortunately, many people take the flu lightly. Flu strains change every year. That explains why the WHO suggests the production of new vaccines to fight the new strains.
About Author: Renu Bakshi, AKA Fitness Buffhq – Best Fitness Guru, is ISSA Certified Elite Trainer. He 
passed Personal Fitness Trainer Course, Nutrition Health Coach course & Specialist Exercise Therapy course from ISSA, the USA, obtaining + 97% marks. He shares his experience and knowledge about nutrition and effective workouts to get you in the best shape of your life, no matter how old you may be. The author says: “For me, age is just a number!”
