The holidays are upon us and in this time of year there is a lot to do and so little time to do it. Shopping for presents, visiting many relatives and friends, decorating our house and, if you are able, going on a winter vacation.
All of this can be very fun and energizing to some while tiresome to others, but however you envision it it can be a complete nightmare if you are feeling ill all the time.
During the colder months the flu is far more common than during the rest of the year and it is worthwhile taking extra precaution to take care of your health so as not to ruin it right when you are supposed to relax and prepare for a New Year.
Lets see what are some common ways of improving your health during the holiday season and how you can choose the right one for you.
Threats to Your Health
The most common sickness when the temperatures drop is influenza, known also as the common flu.
Tens of millions of people suffer from it every year and it has eluded every attempt of containing and eradicating it so far. And even though there is a new vaccine to combat it every year it is far more pleasant to be generally healthy than to have to resort to that kind of medicine.
Another big issue is heart problems, as during lower temperatures your heart is pumping extra blood to keep the entire body warm and functional, which directly leads to higher blood pressure. This, in return, can cause a heart attack if someone already has a preexisting cardiovascular problem.
Not so obvious, but still an issue, are frostbite and hypothermia.
Frostbite occurs when skin or other tissue is exposed to freezing temperatures and the consequences range from numbness and blisters to the very extreme cases of autoamputation.
Hypothermia, or extremely lowered body temperature, occurs more and more rarely but it is notable that it can easily be deadly if not taken care of in a short period of time.
Both of these low temperature illnesses can be easily taken care of with proper warm clothing and a good and healthy diet.
Another side effect of a strong winter is that many people decide to stay indoors the entire period, for as long as possible, resulting in a sedentary lifestyle for too long, which can easily turn to being overweight if combined with a snack food diet.
And being overweight is already a huge problem in modern society so it should go without saying that it must be avoided.
How to Combat Sickness
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” says the old proverb and it holds true still.
Nutrition is the key factor in maintaining a healthy body so it comes as no surprise that it is also the most important thing to consider when fearing for your wellbeing during winter.
If you already have a healthy and natural diet you may benefit from adding into it a few extra things to boost your immune system when other conditions are not helping it.
Micronutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and various food supplements are both great to use and easy to come by. Visit this website to see some reviews of the various brands on the market today. They can be added to almost any foodstuff while preparing it and most do not require a prescription from a doctor.
Vitamin C is probably the most important factor in this category as it helps reduce the risk of chronic disease, helps fight high blood pressure, boosts your immune system and much more.
As it is an essential vitamin it means your body needs it but cannot produce it on its own so it must come through digestion. Most fruit contains some amount of this hydrosoluble vitamin and in a balanced diet you will eat enough of it on its own.
But considering that during winter fresh fruit can be a scarce commodity it is advisable to supplement your diet with some vitamin pills.
Many people think that there is nothing better than breathing through both nostrils clearly again after they have been clogged up for some time. Well what about not having a stuffy nose in the first place?
Holiday season can be the best time of the year to enjoy yourself - no seasonal allergies, lots of presents and company to look forward to, cheer all around, so why ruin it with lousy health when you can easily take care of that too?
