As the air cools and the days get shorter, we must remember to prioritize our health through the cooler months and cold winters. The holiday season is a very cozy time of year that typically involves lots of gatherings and celebrations, but that also increases the risk of catching a virus. Therefore, we will help you prepare by giving you eight tips for you to utilize to increase your chances of staying healthy this fall. 

Get Quality Sleep 

Sleep is your first line of defense in keeping your body prepared to fend off unwanted bugs and colds. As you sleep and your body recharges, your immune system gets the support it needs to fight off foreign pathogens. These defenses fall into two categories: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity has several layers of protection and is broader. Adaptive immunity includes shields your body develops over time and targets specific threats. 

The quality of sleep you get every night is essential to support the immune system and maintain balance. You want a robust immune system that can give you the most effective response to potential threats. 

Get Fresh Air and Vitamin D from the Sun 

As the days are becoming shorter and there is less accessibility to sunshine, it is essential for mental and physical health that you still take 10 - 30 minutes a day to get some fresh air and sunshine outside. 

The body creates vitamin D when sunlight hits the skin. Vitamin D supports the body by helping it retain calcium and phosphorus, which are critical for building bone. It can also reduce cancer cell growth risk, inflammation, and infection control. It is believed that vitamin D can have even more important roles in the body since many organs and tissues have receptors for vitamin D. There is also a correlation between the flu and cold season when vitamin D levels typically fall short for most people. 

The sun's fresh air and vitamin D also supports your mental health. Spending time in the sun can stave off seasonal depression and anxiety.

Immune Support

Adding supplements and vitamins to your diet is an easy but effective way to support your immune system. More specifically, you should take vitamins that are rich in Vitamin C. 

IMMUNE+++ is a proprietary triple-shield formula that offers a unique vitamin C source called Life-C Blend. IMMUNE+++ also contains an Opti-Shield Blend of Reishi, Turkey Tail, and Maitake mushrooms, that has been shown to defend your body against viruses and bacteria. 

On top of that, IMMUNE also contains a Herb and Botanical Blend rich in high-antioxidants from berries and pomegranates. These three blends have been shown to work together to boost your body’s production of white blood cells and T cells. 

These cells are necessary for helping to protect against foreign invaders and eliminate mutated and dead cells in your body. By increasing your body’s production of these cells, you are strengthening your immune system’s self-defense. IMMUNE+++ has also shown other health benefits, including:

• Clinically shown to increase all white blood cells, including B and T cells*.
• Promotes quicker immune response by stimulating immune cell development & activity*.
• Encourages the body’s first line of defense by promoting natural killer (NK) cell response*.
• Provides round-the-clock, 24-hour immune protection, lasting longer than regular Vitamin C*.
• Maintains integrity of skin, facial tissues, and connective tissues by crosslinking collagen fibers*.
• Supports faster wound healing*.

Eat In-Season Produce 

Not only are fruits and vegetables chock-full of vitamins and minerals, but they are also filling and versatile. Produce grown in the fall includes typical items like pumpkin and squash, but also:

• Pears
• Apples
• Cranberries
• Sweet potatoes
• Brussel sprout
• Mandarins

Even some nuts like walnuts and pecans are fresher in the fall. An easy way to reap the benefits of this fall produce is with vegetable soup. This is as simple as cutting up your favorite seasonal veggies, boiling them in vegetable broth until soft, and then serving with the desired toppings or sides like freshly baked bread.

Hydrate 

Even in the cooler months, when you may not feel as thirsty, you still need to drink water. When determining how much water you should drink daily, there are many things to consider. Activity levels/lifestyle, age, weight, gender, types of food, and other drinks consumed throughout the day are all factors that contribute to the amount of water you should drink in a day. 

Online resources provide hydration calculators that estimate how much water you should drink in a day. Drinking water helps your body flush out toxins and ward off illnesses. Seeking professional guidance from your physician or a dietician can also help determine your daily water intake. 

Take Some Time for Yourself

With the busy holiday season approaching, whether you find yourself hosting, attending, or anything in between, things can get overwhelming. Balancing family, friends, work, and the holidays might leave your schedule pretty full. 

Make time to spend alone to recharge your social battery for your mental health. Whether reading, meditating or just watching a show alone with peace and quiet, you should do something that relaxes you and allows your mind to recharge. Sometimes this may come with having to say no to some things, but your body and mind will appreciate not being spread too thin. 

Wash Your Hands Regularly 

Washing your hands regularly throughout the day not only helps reduce the spread of germs but can also help keep you safe from potentially getting sick. You should wash your hands before and after eating, before cooking or preparing food, after shopping, and after using the restroom. 

Ideally, an antimicrobial soap would be used, and you would scrub both the fronts and the backs of the hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and then completely dry your hands off after. Using hand sanitizer can help, but always wash your hands with warm soapy water. 

Get the Flu Shot

Staying up to date on your vaccines is another step you can take to prepare for the winter and stay healthy this fall. Consider getting the flu shot if you have young children, if you are an older adult, or are around immunocompromised people. Most insurance companies cover the flu shot costs, which means you could receive it free. Staying up to date on your vaccines protects you and individuals who cannot receive vaccines or are more susceptible to the illnesses you’re vaccinating against. 

No time to waste: start preparing for the influenza-prone winter months by following these precautions and ordering your IMMUNE+++ today!