Winter Cold: Keep It Away

Winter is the time for more colds and flu as the causative microbes get to survive longer in cold, dry air. But a healthy lifestyle with a boosted immunity can really help you warding off the cold and flu this winter.

What Do We Do?

Clean hands mean less infection

Our forearm holds more bacteria and virus than the armpits. Therefore, regular hand washing is absolutely essential. But to keep away cold and flu-causing germs, scrubbing all the way up to your elbows could be even more effective.

Keep yourself warm- especially your feet

Cold feet cause the blood vessels located in the sinuses to tighten, which in turn suppresses our immune system. Thus, try to keep your feet warm, covered in woollens.

Cover your Nose

The cilia in your nasal and sinus cavities sweep away illness-causing pathogens, but the rate decreases at low temperature increasing the chance of getting cold. Hence, covering your nose with a scarf or woollens can really help you out from catching cold this winter.

Drink hot, eat healthy

A hot soup packed with allergy-fighting foods can be both comforting and curative. With it also try to opt for vegetables to keep away infections.

Ginger is Great

This herb is full of anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Fresh ginger contains chemicals known as sesquiterpenes that specifically fight rhinoviruses, the leading cause of the common cold. It is also effective in preventing Respiratory syncytial virus that causes Upper respiratory tract infection and in severe cases leads to bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

Take vitamins to fight respiratory infections

Taking vitamins such as Vitamin D3 and C can cut down the chances of respiratory infections.

Say Hello to Yogurt

We all know probiotics are good for our health. Probiotic strains that are present in yogurt boost our immunity to prevent cold and flu.

Change your tea to stay healthy

It is time for you to rely on green tea for its ingredient epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that can damage influenza virus particles and stop them from entering your system!

Boost your immunity

It is advisable that you should take immune boosting tonic/ medicine to keep away the cold and flu this winter as the chance of infection increases significantly during the season.