How to Stay Healthy in Winter

Every winter, thousands of people fall ill with the flu, colds and worse. Pharmaceutical companies make millions with over-the-counter remedies to help us feel better. There are some simple things we can do to help ourselves stay healthy in winter. These don’t include medication and, if used regularly, can help us avoid medication almost entirely.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Disinfectant
• Small sized liquid hand sanitizer
• Vitamin C tablets or powders
• Wool scarves, hats
• Warm gloves

1. Make it a habit to regularly disinfect all phones, keyboards, door knobs and handles. Germs accumulate and can stay there for days, even weeks.
2. WASH YOUR HANDS! The more frequently you do, the more likely you’ll avoid the germs and illnesses being passed around.
3. Use hand sanitizers often--after sneezing, shaking hands, eating, meetings or any other opportunity you have. It’s an efficient, simple way to maintain good hygiene and kill lurking germs. Don’t worry about offending anyone. Is that as important as you staying healthy?
4. The minute you feel “fuzzy” or your throat feels scratchy, grab the Vitamin C. Alone or in fizzy tablets combined with antioxidants, it’s a critical factor to staving off sickness. Don’t hesitate; take action fast! Wait and you lose.
5. Always cover your head when going out in the cold or bitter wind. We lose from 30 to 50% of our body heat through our head. That makes us more susceptible to illness, so cover up!
6. We also lose body heat through our hands in winter. Wearing gloves not only helps us stay warm but helps prevent chapped, dry hands too.
7. Get plenty of rest. We’re more likely to get sick when we’re tired and run down. Our bodies need restful sleep to recuperate from stress.
8. Last but not least, drink LOTS of water and other non-alcoholic liquids daily throughout the winter. The more we hydrate, the more toxins we flush out of our systems. This helps our bodies maintain the healthy balance it needs to stay well.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep liquid hand sanitizer in your purse, briefcase, car, desk and anywhere else you can think of. Use it often.
• Try to spend time in the sunshine when you can. Vitamins D is essential to good health.
• If you’re not feeling well, or meet someone else who’s sick, DON’T SHAKE HANDS! Colds and flu easily pass from person to person that way.
• Try to stay away from people who are sick. Change meeting dates (if possible) if someone is “fighting something.” Use common sense and stay healthy.