You know winter has arrived when sniffles and coughs start doing the rounds. It’s time to get the warm gear out and stock up on immune boosters to protect yourself from getting sick. Staying healthy and warm in winter is not impossible. If you practise healthy habits, you’ll get through winter without having to see a doctor.

Be safe not sorry

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this bears repeating: when in public spaces, take all the safety measures you can to prevent sickness. There are all sorts of germs out in the atmosphere and on surfaces from which you can catch a cold or the flu. Remember to always wash your hands. If you don’t have hand wash nearby, at least sanitise before you touch or eat anything. And if COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s always to keep a safe social distance and wear a mask.

Beat the chill

Reality is that being ill is not pleasant. It’s even more of a pain when you have to cough up money to go visit the doctor.  So do what you can to guard against the winter chill and strengthen your immune system to prevent sickness. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. But if you do get sick, hard luck buddy, you should probably go to the doctor. Otherwise here are a few things to make a habit:

• Take your vitamins daily.
• Dress warmly when you step out; it’s chilly out there.
• Eat your veggies (and other immune-boosting foods), folks!
• Double up on socks.
• Eat warm foods.
• Get enough sleep.
• Stay hydrated.
• Keep exercising.

Immune-boosting foods

Choosing the right foods to eat can protect you from sickness. So what are these magical immune-boosting foods, you ask?

• Citrus fruit: it’s high in vitamin C, which helps produce white blood cells (they help fight infections).
• Broccoli: a superfood that’s high in vitamins A, C and E as well as fibre, which feeds good bacteria in your gut.
• Garlic: has antiviral and antibacterial qualities. 
• Yoghurt: contains probiotics, which control the growth of bad gut bacteria and boost your immune system.
• Ginger: helps in fighting infections and viruses.
• Red Bell Pepper: is high in vitamin C which supports growth and repair of body tissues.

These are just a few of the foods you can incorporate into your diet to ensure your immune system is strong and supported.

Safe home-made remedies

If you catch symptoms of a cold early, it is possible to get them under control with home remedies that boost immunity. While it’s always safer to go to a professional, these are some safe, timeless home remedies to try:

• Warm salt water – gargling with a full glass of warm water with one teaspoon of salt helps prevent upper respiratory infections and reduces mucus (which contains bacteria).
• Honey and lemon – thesework well together in tea or hot water. Among its many qualities, lemon is known to clear phlegm and boost your immune system, while honey eases a sore throat and suppresses coughs.  
• Chicken soup – this is said to lower upper respiratory infections. And it tastes good too, so that’s a bonus!
• Steaming – inhaling steam from boiled water helps to unclog a stuffy nose.
• Vapor rub – rubbing it under a stuffy nose or on your chest helps to clear your sinuses.

If none of these precautions and tips help you get better, seek professional medical care. We wish you good health and cosy winter days. Stay safe!