Staying Warm and Healthy Can Be Simple with These 5 Steps

The winter season is a time for festivities and celebrations with family and friends. It is a time of great busyness and even great amounts of stress. With all of the activities mounting on one’s to do list, it can be difficult to keep stress to a minimum. As stress builds and it becomes increasingly difficult to get enough rest each night and to eat healthy and maintain a proper exercise regimen, one’s body becomes worn down. However, anyone can use the following five simple steps for staying warm and healthy this winter season.

Dress in Layers

There are two main reasons for dressing in layers. The first is that it will keep a person warm and well insulated when out in the cold. The second is that it can keep one cool when he comes inside; he can then remove the top layer or two if need be. 

Well thought through layers can be a great benefit to staying warm on a bitingly cold day. When one is planning to be outside, he should make sure that his first layer of clothing can wick away moisture, such as perspiration, from his skin. Contrary to popular belief, cotton does not wick away moisture. Instead, he should opt for a manmade material, such as polyester. Many layering garments are currently labeled as moisture-wicking. The second layer should form a cozy insulation to keep in body heat. One of the best options for this is fleece or microfleece. The third and top layer should keep out wind, snow and rain. This layer is often formed of a shiny, impermeable material, such as nylon.

Wear a Hat When Outdoors

It is a well-known fact that a great deal of body heat is lost through the head. This is because many of the blood vessels in the head lay near the surface of the skin in the scalp, cheeks and nose. A simple and cheap beanie can be a great purchase. For even more warmth, one can search for a lined hat or one that has extensions to cover the ears.

Get an Annual Flu Shot

The annual flu shot, while certainly not perfect, is carefully formulated by scientists each year. Early in the year, these scientists determine what they believe the top three strains of influenza virus will be for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. In a painstaking process, they then create a flu vaccine that will protect from these chosen strains. 

The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend annual flu shots for anyone over the age of six months. The vaccine is incapable of actually causing the disease but instead protects from these most major strains. Today’s vaccine is even easier to receive since it comes in both a shot form as a well as a nasal spray.

Eat Chicken Noodle Soup

Although researchers are still trying to determine the exact reasons for this phenomenon, chicken noodle soup continues to retain its powerful cold-fighting ability. Although it does not prevent colds and other types of sickness, it can aid the healing process. One of the main reasons as to why scientists and researchers believe this to be true is that the steam from a bowl of hot soup can relieve sinus congestion and decrease mucus in the throat. In addition, the vegetables provide immune-boosting power, and the soup as a whole can decrease inflammation in airways.

Get Enough Rest

People who receive less than seven hours of sleep each night are wearing down the sickness-fighting powers of their bodies. The body will become increasingly stressed and will not retain the highest amount of immunity possible. Experts recommend that adults sleep between seven to nine hours each night. While sleep can be difficult during the school year and around the holiday season especially, it is vital for maintaining a good mood, decreasing fatigue and fighting off infections.

These steps are quite simple to follow and will help any busy adult to stay warm and healthy throughout the winter. Each of these suggestions will protect the body from potentially dangerous or just downright annoying bacteria and viruses. Anyone can make this season their healthiest winter on record. 

Author Bio

Ron Thompson writes for Del-Immune V®, a unique probiotic supplement made from the lactobacillus rhamnosus and immunity solutions from Del Immune.