6 Ways To Avoid Colds and Flus Over The
HolidaysKevin Koskella -
triswimcoach.com/
It seems that nearly everyone catches a cold or the flu
between the months of December through February. Most people think this is just
the way it has to be, and germs just randomly attack people. Well, this just
isn’t true!
There are many ways to avoid these annoying and often
depressing illnesses. Follow these 6 suggestions and you will significantly
reduce your chances of falling prey to one of these nasty attacks!
- Avoid
sugar. As difficult as this may seem in during the holidays,
it’s the #1 reason people get sick! Sugar takes a big hit on your immune
system, and opens you up to disease. If you absolutely cannot do without sweets
for 6 weeks, pick and choose a few specific times when you allow yourself a
dessert. The daily chocolate around the office will surely come back to haunt
you!
- Get enough
sleep. If holiday
demands are forcing you to cut down on sleep, you are also putting stress on
your defense against germs. Winter is actually a time when you should plan to
sleep a little more than usual, not try to get by with as little as
possible.
- Avoid
Stuffing Yourself. Although
it may be tempting to overeat during this time, this will cause your liver to
have to work extra hard, and lead to you getting
sick. Overeating any time is also a good way to gain extra weight, as your body
stores some of what it cant use as fat. Stick with smaller meals more often and
dont let others pressure you into eating too much because its the holiday
season. Nibbling on appetizers for hours before a big meal can really do you
in. Make sure you think about what you are eating and slow down on the
alcohol!
- Prioritize
and Reduce Stress. Make sure you are prioritizing your work and
daily activities so you don’t become overwhelmed and stressed out. Keeping
unwanted stress away is a big factor in staying healthy. Take up yoga or
meditation, or just reserve 20-30 minutes per day that’s “your
time”- where you don’t have to do anything or be
anywhere.
- Cook with
Coconut Oil. For many
years coconut oil was the preferred oil for Americans, until the Canola
industry spread false rumors about it, claiming that it was bad for your
health. Recent studies have shown that in fact by not eating coconut oil
we are missing out on nutrients that keep our immune systems strong.
It is the
only “good” form of saturated fat. To stay strong, have a couple of
teaspoons every day, either in your cooking or as part of a
smoothie.
- Aerobic
Workouts. If you’re going to miss a workout, make it an
anaerobic one. Stick with your walking, jogging, swimming, cycling. Anaerobic
workouts like lifting weights, or doing sprints, put more stress on the body,
and skipping these occasionally during this time of year can actually benefit
your health.
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Author
Information
Kevin is a personal
trainer and triathlon coach in San Diego, CA. He has owned a personal training
company, and consulted in the fitness field for over 9 years. He is author of
the e-book, The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming and The Healthy Burn. You
can visit his website here
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