Don’t let cold weather get you down—end this year strong and healthy with your immune system in top shape and ready for 2024! The plummeting temperatures and darker days often accompany a season of sniffles, comfort foods, and hibernation techniques. But fear not! You can increase your ability to fight off bugs by practicing these healthy habits each day.
Reduce the Spread
Washing your hands frequently helps protect you from illnesses of all types, including colds and other viruses, and wiping surfaces with sanitizers decreases your risk. Trying to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible can be helpful. Other preventative measures include staying hydrated to flush toxins out and prioritizing sleep to give your immune system a boost!
Nutritious and Delicious
Your diet plays an essential role in your overall health and immune system. In fact, eating healthy foods improves cholesterol, reduces blood pressure, helps manage weight, and controls blood sugar. The holidays make it challenging to eat right (so many parties!), so do your best to aim for 80% nutritious foods and 20% tasty treats! Try to limit processed foods like chips, fast food, and deli meats. Fill half your plate with fresh fruits and veggies, a quarter with lean proteins (like eggs, salmon, and beans), and a quarter with whole grains like brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, and quinoa. Staying hydrated is just as important, so make water your drink of choice!
Move More
Exercise also boosts your immune system in more ways than one. Exercise increases heart rate and pumps more blood and oxygen throughout your body, which helps lymph nodes make and move more white blood cells through your body. Some cells always circulate, but having more white blood cells increases your ability to fight invaders, and that boost lasts for up to three hours after you stop moving. You don’t have to run a mile a day or do an hour workout — walking upstairs instead of taking the elevator, parking farther away to get in more steps, and taking a 10-minute stroll a couple of times each day are great options. Every little bit counts!
Sleep Well
Sleep is the rock on which immunity is built since your immune system works during sleep. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night by going to bed early enough, even if you have to say no to things that keep you up later. If you have to, take a little time off work to reset your sleep and get used to going to bed earlier. More sleep also improves memory and focus, so you’ll return to your responsibilities on top of your game.
When you live at Lariat, you’ll have the tools you need to stay well and strong. Residents will enjoy plenty of room to move and a supportive community where we all strive to live our best lives. Contact us today to find your dream home and start living your healthiest life.