Irving Primary Care

5 Ways to Prepare Your Body for Winter

The buzzing winter holiday season is here! As soon as you notice the first cool winter breeze, start preparing your body for the days to come. The cold temperature brings with it serious ailments as well as feelings of melancholy. Hence, to stay healthy all season long, adopt good habits.

In this blog, we will give you some useful tips to prepare your body for the long nights and short days so you stay protected from diseases like cold and flu.

Let us get started!

5 Ways to Prepare Your Body for Winter

1. Increase Vitamin D Intake

Our bodies produce Vitamin D in the presence of sunlight. In places where exposure to sunlight is limited during winters, Vitamin D deficiency can become a common problem. Vitamin D is a great weapon against seasonal diseases like cold and flu. If you can’t head out to get some sun, add vitamin D to your diet. Salmon, cod, chia seeds, walnuts, dairy products and flax seeds are some foods that contain vitamin D.

2. Workout to Stay Warm

It is essential to keep your fitness routine intact during the winter season to say fit. A good workout will warm up your muscles, preventing them from becoming injured or strained.

During the winter, people also tend to put on some holiday weight. Working out during the season prevents any weight gain. Regular exercise also regulates the mood, fighting melancholic feelings of depression that come with the season.

3. Take Care of Your Skin

Taking care of your skin is integral to prepare your body for winter. With the first cool breeze, you will notice dry and patchy skin. Winter is the time to show your skin some love, so keep moisturizing it. Switch to thicker moisturizers and avoid hot, long showers as they can strip your skin of essential nutrients. Remember, you might not be able to see the sun, but it\’s still there so wear SPF during the day to protect your skin from UV exposure.

4. Boost Your Immune System

A weak immune system is susceptible to diseases like cold and flu and can increase your chances of contracting them. Your goal during the season must be to keep your immune system strong so that it can fight off diseases. Vitamin C is a great immunity booster, so consuming citrus fruits can help. Zinc is also a great immunity booster since it uses white blood cells to defend the body against harmful, disease-causing pathogens. Add foods rich in zinc like crabs, shrimps, beans, nuts and whole grains to your diet.

5. Add Fruits, Vegetables and Spices to Your Diet

Fruits, vegetables and spices, like turmeric, provide natural antioxidants to your body to help fight winter diseases. Fuel your body with these foods. They also contain essential minerals and vitamins that can boost your immune system.

irvingprimarycare.com Is Here to Help!

As the cold season approaches, you must do everything in your power to protect your immune system and prepare your body. Book an appointment with irvingprimarycare.com via our website today to get a flu shot before winter arrives to prevent influenza and other serious diseases. You can also reach out to us by calling at (469)262-5762.

Remember to stay warm, stay safe, and enjoy the holiday festivities!