Top Ways to Boost Your Winter Immune System
Try natural ways to boost your winter immune system
As winter approaches, you’re probably focusing on all of the things you need to do to prepare for the change in season. You’ve probably thought of the standard ones, like winter tires and pulling out those warm sweaters and jackets. But what about your preparation on the inside? Specifically, the immune system. A strong immune system can help o help keep you safe from the flu, COVID-19, and even the irritating common cold. It is, therefore, going to be one of the core focus points in your winter prep!
Top tips for boosting your immune system in time for winter
There are quite a few ways in which you address your immune system’s needs. Some may prefer something directly, like using Manuka honey for the immune system a boost. Others may prefer something a bit more general, such as stress management. Regardless, it’s all covered below for you to get a real sense of how you should tackle immunity for actual results!
● Add a teaspoon of honey to your morning beverage of choice
There’s the reason that this is first on the list — because it’s the sweetest (literally and figuratively). When you add in a touch of your favorite natural honey, it will helo soothe a tickle in your throat before it starts and will be a simple way to give a little extra nudge to your immunity while it’s at it.
Honey is also a great starting point for immunity in that it’s a widespread nutritional addition to your diet. That is, it will be an excellent replacement for classic table sugar and will also offer you vitamins and minerals at the same time. Great for coffee, tea, yogurt, toast, oatmeal, and so on.
● Eat as many natural foods as possible
When you look at eating for stronger immunity, the general rule is to “eat naturally.” This doesn’t mean that you need to eat a vegan lifestyle, but rather, eat a diet with real, wholesome foods in it. No canned soup or packaged pasta. Add natural fruits and vegetables and raw, unprocessed foods. There will always be one or two instances where packaged food is in your pantry, but wholesome foods will have a better nutritional value to them and deserve focus when looking at your health plan.
When you can’t necessarily get whole foods in all of your areas, a natural superfood supplement can be a great choice to fill the gap. This will help you keep your body as strong and healthy as possible without being inconvenient.
● Fall in love with zinc
One of the best-targeted approaches to stronger immunity is zinc. When you are deficient in zinc, you are leaving yourself susceptible to pathogens and bacteria, etc. Just ensuring that you are taking the correct amounts of zinc can help manage your immunity much better. One simple change can make a huge difference.
● Prioritize that sleep cycle
Sleep is when our body repairs itself. When we get the right amount of sleep, we also get the restorative deep sleep cycle that does the “fixing.” If we only sleep 3–4 hours a night, that deep cycle is dangerously short or sometimes missing entirely from the body’s natural sleep cycle. A body in need of repair will be weaker in its defenses than a body that gets that restorative sleep that it needs. As often as possible, prioritize those 7–8 hours a night so that you give the deep sleep section of your sleep cycle the best chance possible to get to work.
● Make time for stress-relief
Many experts have studied the relationship between stress levels and immunity. There is a connection between them. When stress and anxiety levels skyrocket, immunity can drop even if you are doing everything else as you should. While stress and anxiety are impossible to avoid, it’s essential to dedicate time every single day to stress relief. It could be deep breathing or meditation. It could be through calming exercises such as yoga or tai chi. Whatever helps you feel like the stress is rolling off. Stress relief is going to help you keep your immunity a priority, even if it doesn’t always feel that way!
Some final tips for winter safety
Whether you’re sold on the idea of honey for an immune system boost, or you like the idea of combining several of these tips together for a cohesive “attack mode” option, it’s all about making things work for you. The most important thing is that you go into winter feeling as though you’ve got the protection that you need. Her area few more last-minute tips, too:
● When returning home, have a hand-washing routine
Many people literally bring bacteria and germs into their homes and don’t even know it. To help minimize this as much as possible, try to get into the habit of washing your hands as soon as you can get home. This will help reduce any intended transfer from your hands to light switches, doorknobs, etc.
● Dress in layers
While “catching a cold,” if you go outside without a warm jacket is, happily, a myth, you will want to get used to dressing for the weather. While being cold won’t make you sick, it’s certainly uncomfortable and can even raise your stress levels — which can lower immunity, as we’ve learned. Dress in layers so that you can dress up or down for the conditions!
● Get comfortable with saying “no”
If someone is looking to spend time with you who is sick with the flu or a cold, or they are in contact with someone who is, be comfortable declining! You have to do whatever it takes to protect yourself and those around you, after all. Be comfortable pushing any planned get-togethers until the sick person has recovered so that you can all get together safely.
Boosting your immune system will be a great way to prepare yourself for a healthy and happy winter. The goal will be to add these suggestions into your life as comfortably as possible so that you are doing everything possible to boost your body’s natural defenses!
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