6 Simple Preventative Tools for a Healthier Life
By Genevieve Cunningham
Summer is almost over, which means the next round of holidays will be the truly fun ones. Halloween. Thanksgiving. Christmas! Unfortunately, as the air turns crisp, it ushers in the season of colds and flu and other yucky illnesses. Getting sick any time of year is no fun, but getting sick during the holidays is miserable! To help keep yourself healthier all year long, check out these great tips for illness prevention.
Wash Often
It can’t be said enough. Wash your hands! So many of the germs that we pass along or pick up are done through the hands. We touch things like door knobs or counters or even other people, and then we fail to wash off the germs that we picked up. This can lead to sickness that could easily have been prevented. To avoid this, just make it a point to wash your hands with soap and water throughout the day. It also helps to keep your hands away from the face, especially if it has been awhile since you last washed.
Take Vitamins
Taking the right kinds of vitamins can help to ward off illness before it ever has the chance to invade. Taking vitamins, such as Vitamin C, can boost the body’s natural immunities and keep germs at bay. For the flu, you can also look to supplements like elderberry, which is known for fighting viruses like the flu, specifically. Just a simple supplement or two through the cold and flu season may help you stay healthy and strong.
Chiropractic Care
Getting chiropractic care is a great way to give your overall health a boost. A chiropractor works by aligning the spine, which is an integral part of the central nervous system. When the central nervous system is in good health, other systems often see a boost, like the immune system. Beginning a regular routine now and sustaining it at least through the cold and flu season may help to keep your entire body healthier and illnesses far away.
Exercise
Exercise is great for the body and mind. It helps you maintain weight, build strong muscles, and keep the systems in the body working at optimal level. For illness, exercise may help to keep the body healthy enough to fight them off itself. Try exercising a minimum of four times per week. This is enough to see healthy benefits without making yourself feel overwhelmed. Of course, if you can do more than that, great! But in this case, almost any regular exercise is better than none.
Be Prepared
One way that a lot of people get sick is by being unprepared. Make sure that you are prepared for whatever hits. For starters, take hand sanitizer with you in your car or purse. It’s also a good idea to layer up. Then, if bad weather comes, you’re ready with a sweater or jacket. Being prepared can mean the difference in catching that nasty cold and staying well all season long.
Eat for Health
When the holidays hit, we all indulge just a little. After all, the holidays are packed full of goodies and treats. For health reasons, however, try to keep the indulgences to a minimum. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies and lean meats. This will help keep the body in better overall health and help it fight off germs and illness. Indulge in a treat once in a while, of course, but stick to the healthy foods the majority of the time.
Keeping sickness away is never a guarantee, but there are definitely things you can do to give your body a fighting chance. Use these tips to keep yourself healthy during the approaching holidays and all year long. You've been warned.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cary, N.C.