During winter, the opportunity to become ill thanks to an underperforming immune system is that much more likely. Not only are you more vulnerable due to the colder weather, but the instinct to stay inside during this period means you will be exposed to many more bacteria and germs. Feeling ill is never pleasant, but it can be especially taxing during long and dark days. For that reason, here are a handful of ways that you can work to keep your immune system strong year-round; even through flu season!
1 – Keeping Hygiene Levels Optimal
Personal hygiene is your first line of defence against bacteria; plain and simple.
Stopping infection, then, is a responsibility which largely falls on your own shoulders. Wash your hands on a regular basis, using soap and water, but especially before or after preparing food. If you do have a sneeze or cough, then make sure to cover your mouth with a tissue to ‘catch’ the cold. This should prevent you from infecting others at the very least.
2 – Drink Plenty of Liquids
Drinking a lot of water can be one of the easiest ways to ensure you have a healthy immune system, no matter the weather. The idea behind this is quite simple. The more we drink, the better our kidneys work and they work to push toxins out of our body on a daily basis. Our brains are also boosted by water intake and so it can help with our thinking prowess. On the whole, water is a great way to cleanse your body throughout and so is naturally a good thing for our immune systems.
Try a hydration tracking water bottle – which you can get in any standard supermarket – in order to see whether or not you’re intaking the right level of water.
3 – Remember Oral Health
Keeping ourselves healthy overall is as much connected to our oral health as it is any other part of our body, due to something known as the Mouth-Body Connection. A swab of saliva can actually tell a doctor a lot about the health of the rest of your body, so ignoring this connection would be at your own peril.
Therefore, it is a good case for maintaining a high level of oral hygiene. Good brushing habits, getting your teeth professionally cleaned and even orthodontist Warrington treatments may be an important part of this. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to ask your nearest dental professional, such as Dental Solutions, for advice in this regards. Otherwise, you may be causing your immune system undue stress thanks to poor oral hygiene.
4 – Sleep Well
Sleep is actually one of the biggest factors when it comes to our overall health – including both physical and mental – so, it’s important to ensure this is a priority in your daily routine. Optimum sleep time depends fully on your body, but on average around 7 to 9 hours of sleep is best.
If you do get sick, then sleep is one of the best curatives as plenty of rest can help your body to fight infections or any other issues more efficiently. Which means, if you’re looking to lead a healthier lifestyle then feel free to spend more time in bed!
In conclusion, sometimes keeping on top of the simple things in your lifestyle health-wise can have a big effect on your immune system! As such, working to keep factors such as diet, hygiene and even sleep in good proportion can be the best first step to improving your immune system in the long term. Especially important if a healthier, fitter, you is the goal for 2019!