Every so often we all get sick. Whether you catch a cough or a cold or become a victim of a winter vomiting bug, it is inevitable that at one point or another, you will get sick.
However, there are certain things you can do to help decrease yours and your family’s risk of catching the latest illness going around.
For our top tips to staying healthy, have a read of this.
- Eat healthily
By eating the right foods and teaching your children to do the same, you can reduce your risk of getting sick.
As well as eating lots of vitamin filled fruits and vegetables, you should also be eating lots of immune-boosting foods. Foods that boost your immune system include things like probiotic yogurt, garlic, oats and barley, fish, red meat, and sweet potatoes. To find out all about how immune system boosting foods can help you, do some research online.
- Get enough sleep
Take the time to teach your children about the importance of getting enough sleep. Explain to them that if they don’t get enough sleep their immune systems will not function properly. Meaning that they will not be able to protect them from coughs, colds and other illnesses.
To function properly children’s immune systems need between eight and eleven hours of sleep, depending on their age. Whereas adult’s immune systems need between seven and a half hours and eight hours of sleep.
Set a bedtime schedule for both your children and yourself and your partner. Make sure that you stick to the schedule and get as much sleep as you need. Otherwise, you will be more prone to getting sick.
- Stay active
Keeping active is about a lot more than simply staying fit and losing weight. You may not realise it, but regularly exercising can enhance the functionality of your immune system.
Studies have suggested that people who regularly exercise, are half as likely to catch a cold than those that don’t.
So, it is vital that you keep yourself and your family active and teach them about the importance of exercising on a regular basis.
- Stay on top of vaccinations
One of the most important things you can do to protect your family from illness is to make sure you keep on top of your immunization schedule.
“If you can’t remember when your next vaccinations are, make an appointment to talk it through with a primary care physician in Littleton.”
- Look after yourself
If you get sick, your family will most probably get sick too. So, it is important that you take care of yourself, both physically and mentally.
You may not realise it, but high-stress levels can have an adverse effect on your immune system, making your more prone to illness. So, if you find yourself feeling stressed, it might be a good idea to take some time out and de-stress. Perhaps you could go for a spa day, go for a run, try out a yoga class, or whatever else helps to calm you down.
