Best Natural Ways to Prevent Winter Colds and Viruses
Winter is a time when the viruses and colds seem to be everywhere. There’s no escaping it, but you can do your best to keep them away by boosting your immune system with these natural remedies.
Get enough sleep.
You’re probably already aware of the importance of getting enough sleep. Sleep is a critical part of health, as it helps your body recover from the day, it helps your brain recover from the day and it helps your immune system recover from the day.
Getting enough sleep and maintaining good sleep hygiene are incredibly important for preventing colds and other viruses during winter months. Sleeping will also help you avoid catching a cold in the first place because while you’re asleep, your white blood cells are working hard to fight off bacteria or viruses that may be trying to enter your body through mucous membranes (like those found in your nose). If you don’t get enough sleep at night, these white blood cells won’t be able to do their job properly — leaving you susceptible to illness!
Eat your veggies.
There’s no better way to boost your immune system than by eating your fruits and veggies. These dark green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, collards and Swiss chard are packed with vitamin C, which helps you fight off infections. Red and orange vegetables like tomatoes and peppers contain lycopene that aids in preventing cancer.
Red/orange fruits such as strawberries or sweet potatoes provide Vitamin A which also helps boost immunity as well as support healthy skin functions. Yellow or orange fruit such as peaches and mangoes contain beta-carotene that is converted into vitamin A in the body thus strengthening the immune system against viruses like colds too!
So make sure to include at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies every day during winter months so that you can stay healthy all season long!
Boost your Vitamin D level. (If you’re low in Vitamin D.)
If you’re low in Vitamin D, then it’s important to get more. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from foods, which are essential for healthy bones and teeth. It also helps the body use protein efficiently, which is important for many functions in the body including muscle strength, blood pressure regulation and immune system function.
Garlic is your friend, according to research.
Garlic is one of the oldest and most effective natural remedies around. It has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, and research shows that garlic can actually help prevent colds and the flu.
Garlic contains a powerful compound called allicin that helps boost your immune system by fighting off infections, bacteria, viruses, fungi and more.
When you take garlic daily it helps protect your body against these harmful organisms so they can’t make you sick.
Allicin is one of the most powerful compounds found in garlic, and it’s what gives garlic its pungent smell. When you crush or cut garlic, an enzyme called alliinase gets activated and converts alliin into allicin. Allicin is what provides the majority of garlic’s health benefits. The more allicin a product contains,
the more potent it will be. Garlic has been proven to: – Boost your immune system – Fight off infections and colds – Help prevent cancer-causing cells from spreading – Protect against heart disease, blood clots, high blood pressure and diabetes
Add some sage to your tea.
Sage is a powerful immune booster. It’s been used for centuries to treat colds and flu, and it’s easy to make at home. Simply add a few sprigs of fresh sage to a tea ball or sachet, then steep the herbs in hot water for several minutes. Strain out the herb when you’re ready to drink your tea. Sage tea can be enjoyed hot or cold—the flavor is actually enhanced when chilled!
Up your Vitamin C intake daily.
Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients for your body. It helps the body produce and maintain collagen, which is a fibrous protein that keeps skin healthy. The vitamin also helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, chemicals produced by your body’s cells that can slow down the healing process or cause premature aging.
Vitamin C is good for your immune system too. It helps your body fight off infections and reduces inflammation throughout the respiratory tract, making it easier to breathe when you have a cold or flu virus (1).
You can get enough vitamin C through certain fruits like oranges and grapefruits as well as vegetables like spinach or broccoli (2). You can also take supplements if you don’t eat enough fruits and veggies in your diet every day!
Drink bone broth regularly.
Drink bone broth regularly.
Bone broth is rich in minerals and amino acids, which are necessary for many bodily functions. It’s also rich in collagen, a protein that helps support healthy skin, hair, and nails. Bone broth is also an excellent source of calcium—and while it’s true that you can get plenty of calcium from dairy products like milk or yogurt, drinking bone broth regularly may be easier on your digestive system than eating dairy products every day (or even every week).
The health benefits of bone broth may vary from person to person, depending on your diet and lifestyle. If you’re looking for a way to keep your bones strong and healthy as you age (or if you just want to get more nutrients from your food), drinking bone broth regularly is definitely worth a try.
Up your probiotic intake daily.
Probiotics are good for your immune system, and can help prevent and fight off infections. Probiotics also support your digestive health, which is key to keeping your body strong when it comes to fighting off viruses and other bugs. Probiotic foods include yogurt (preferably full fat), kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and pickles. They can also be taken as a supplement in the form of capsules or powders.
There are a few other things that you can do to boost your immune system. Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercise, and reducing stress will all help keep your body strong against colds.
By taking advantage of the above natural remedies and lifestyle changes, you can significantly reduce your chances of catching a cold or other virus during the winter months. While we can’t promise complete immunity from the common cold, extra sleep, Vitamin D supplements, garlic consumption and probiotics should go a long way towards helping boost your immune system.
