HOW TO STAY HEALTHY DURING THE FLU SEASON!
Happy Wednesday Squadies! Flu season is almost upon us! With COVID-19 still in the air, it is crucial, now more than ever, that we do all we can to stay healthy during the flu season. What are some best practices to make sure ourselves and our families stay safe and healthy?! There are many simple things we can do or add to our daily routines to prevent getting sick.
Hygiene and disinfecting!
You have all heard it before! Frequently washing and sanitizing your hands plus keeping your surrounding living area clean is SO important. Something as small as touching the same surface as someone carrying the flu can get you sick! Without washing or sanitizing your hands, that simple touch could mean the difference between getting sick or not! Along with washing your hands, areas within your living quarters should also be disinfected regularly. Surfaces such as countertops or kitchen tables are frequently touched by the whole family. Germs can easily spread from surface to person if a surface is not cleaned regularly. Along with staying clean and disinfecting, when in public, try to avoid frequently touched surfaces and of course, keep your distance from others! This is one of the most important things we can do that can make sure we are staying healthy during the flu season!
Vitamins
Some vitamins can play a huge role in our overall health, and can make the difference between getting sick or not! Vitamins can help boost our immune system and give our bodies what they need to function properly and efficiently. There are a couple, in particular, I would recommend:
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays a key role in MULTIPLE functions within the body. Looking at protecting yourself from the flu, in particular, vitamin D helps support your immune system, nervous system, and brain. It also helps support your cardiovascular system and lungs. Stress and depression are the leading causes of sickness. Vitamin D helps regulate the serotonin in your body which directly impacts our mood and how we are feeling, without it we are more likely to feel sad or down. One of the best sources of vitamin D is the sun! For many different reasons such as cold weather or spending more time indoors, a majority of people in this world are deficient in vitamin D. Supplementing vitamin D can help us stay healthy during the flu season.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is VITAL in keeping the immune system strong. It is needed for our bodies to be able to grow healthy tissue and repair unhealthy tissue. Vitamin C allows our body to absorb Iron and produce collagen. In other words, it’s kind of a big deal! Our bodies CANNOT naturally produce vitamin C, meaning we must be getting enough of it through the foods we eat or through supplementation! I choose to supplement it to ensure I am getting enough and avoid getting sick!
Zinc
Zinc is most commonly known for its ability to help your skin stay healthy, help fight infection, and help heal wounds. Some studies have shown that taking Zinc when cold or flu symptoms first begin to emerge can help reduce the duration of your sickness! Although more studies need to be done to prove this indefinitely, taking Zinc is worth a shot!
Lifestyle
The truth is, diet and exercise play a huge role in your overall health. I talk about it ALL the time because it is true that staying fit and active while eating a healthy diet will help you stay healthy all year round for many years to come! Exercising helps the body get rid of any toxins within which can, of course, help prevent sickness. Getting our heart rate elevated, pumping blood through our veins, can help strengthen our immune system which also intern, helps prevent sickness. Staying hydrated and getting the proper nutrients and vitamins daily can help you stay healthy during flu season - and all year round! Intaking the proper amount of water in a day is crucial; it helps flush toxins out of your body. Eating the proper foods will ensure that you are giving your body everything it needs to function properly and efficiently.
Fasting
Practicing fasting can help purge your body of any unhealthy, dying, or unwanted cells. This process is called autophagy and can help you stay healthy during the flu season! Autophagy allows our cells to better adapt to stress. Getting rid of the damaged or dysfunctional cells in our body can help prevent illness; when these cells accumulate they can cause us harm and have negative effects on our bodies. There you have it squadies! Some awesome tips on how to stay healthy throughout the flu season!