8 Ways of Increasing Immunity When it Gets Colder
Winter’s quickly approaching – and its bite can chill us to the bone. As I write this, I’m cozied up in an apartment on the 17th floor while wearing my greyest, largest hoodie. You can’t blame me, winter can be dreary, especially when you get sick a lot.
I figured this would be a good time to talk about ways that you can avoid catching colds by getting your immune system on track!
During the winter weather, I make sure that I stock up on immune system boosters so that I can avoid becoming sick and I can enjoy the holiday season.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s talk about why we’re prone to get sick more often during colder seasons.
Getting Sick When Temperature’s Below Zero
If you’re like me, you likely go into hermit mode and hibernate indoors as much as possible during winter. And it turns out that we invite viruses to simmer down with us whether we like (or even know) it or not.
Staying in enclosed spaces for a long period of time poses a greater risk of respiratory infection. How?
Naturally, when we share a space with one or more people, which means there’s more face-to-face contact. In my case, I live with my partner, and we don’t exactly stay a radius of three to six feet – the ‘breathing zone’. Ah, the sacrifices we make for our loved ones.
Unfortunately, viruses don’t care about your relationship status. They thrive in colder and drier climates, as well as in lower humidity. In the autumn and winter seasons, viruses circulate more easily much to the chagrin of – well, everyone.
With lower humidity, that little bit of moisture that surrounds the virus evaporates. This allows it to float in the air for an extended amount of time till the person catches it.
Exposure to sunlight (ie vitamin D) is drastically lower during the winter and can negatively impact the immune system. Ultraviolet light from the sun is an effective decontaminant, the experts say.
Need more tricks for a stronger immune system? Here they come!
Ways to Strengthen the Immune System
1. Face the cold weather head-on
It’s high time to stop being a wuss and venture out into the cold. Though it appears as hazardous territory, I must build my immunity by learning to adapt to colder temperatures so that I’ll be less susceptible to infection.
2. Invest in an air humidifier
An air humidifier will add moisture back into the air. The viruses will find it challenging to spread when more water molecules are present in a room and likely to interfere with the virus’s projection through the air when expelled by a cough or sneeze.
3. Exercise
Get involved in fun winter activities, indoors or outdoors (although going outdoors would give me extra brownie points for following the first way to strengthen the immune system). To name a few, snowboarding, tobogganing, and building a snow fort could help prevent infection while passing the time joyously. Exercising increases circulation and is a great immune system booster.
It’s also a great way to keepyour energy levels up!
4. Get adequate sleep
A full eight to nine hours of sleep could do wonders for, not only increased productivity and mental clarity but also in acting as an immune system booster capable of battling any virus coming my way.
5. Reduce the risk of infection
Remembering to regularly wash hands for at least 20 seconds, disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, stay hydrated, and avoid close contact with those who are sick, are some of the steps to lowering the chances of myself falling ill.
6. Try to minimize stress
Coming from a student majoring in a graduate certificate program in public relations, minimizing stress is no easy feat but not impossible. I time manage to the best of my abilities and even schedule much-needed breaks in-between school demands. Lower stress levels are one of the many keys immune system boosters that keeps viruses at bay.
Make time for yourself, brew some tea, get your sleep and make sure to stay active.
7. Get your flu shot
I understand this is a sensitive topic for some, so I’ll only scratch the surface. A vaccine is an inactive form of the virus, which activates the immune system to create antibodies so that when I am exposed to the real virus, I will have some defense to safeguard me.
8. Take supplements, preferably vitamin C and D
Vitamin D supplements will help shorten the course of a respiratory illness and they can be administered in pill form or topically as animmune booster patch.
Pills Vs. Topical Supplements
As you know, I find pills hard to swallow and only take them when absolutely needed. Pills are also loaded with additives, fillers, and synthetics. On top of that, when pills go through the gastrointestinal tract, their bioavailability reduces before systematic circulation. That’s kind of a bummer.
Vitamin patches, however, might soon garner widespread interest. An all-natural immune booster patch by the likes ofpatchv3.com can guarantee long-lasting benefits all day as the vitamins are absorbed through the skin.
It’s safe to apply, as the immune booster patch is indeed gluten-free, non-GMO, lactose-free, and overall vegan. With the immune booster patch, the body processes this form of supplement directly into the bloodstream and bypasses any filter in the body limiting absorption.
The immunity patch from patchv3.com contains vitamins C and D and elderberry extract, all of which contribute to being the ultimate immune system booster…
*Lightbulb*
I think I know what I want for Christmas now.