Whether you’re traveling, welcoming guests, or will just be around any other human during the Holiday Season, it’s a season of germs. Not only do they congregate in airports, bus terminals, and other travel centers, it’s the time of year when more viruses live and thrive. But, you’re not doomed to sickness. In fact, we’ve got 15 simple tips to stay healthy this holiday season.
Put these tips together, and you’ll boost your immune system, reduce the spread of germs, and even fight the replication of viruses. Interested?
15 Tips to Stay Healthy This Holiday Season
1.Wash Hands and use Moisturizing Sanitizer Often
The best of our tips to stay healthy this Holiday Season? Let’s start at the top.
You get sick for one reason: germs enter your body. Bacteria and viruses make you ill by finding a way in, usually through physical contact. Typically, this happens via your hands. They touch a germy surface, and then you touch your mouth, nose, ears, etc. Once this happens, it’s important having a strong immune system as discussed below. But, you can avoid most of it by simply washing and sanitizing your hands often, and avoid touching your face.
2. Take Probiotics Daily
Healthy gut bacteria are extremely important to the immune system. In fact, they have a direct effect on it. They often become diminished from illnesses, antibiotics in medications and foods, and more. When they are killed, the immune system suffers. When they thrive, the immune system improves (1).
You can get probiotics through foods and supplements. They include plain yogurt, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, fermented vegetable powders (like Fermented Green Supremefood), living foods (like Living Chia with Probiotics), and probiotic supplements, especially those with lactobacillus acidophilus.
3. Take Supplements and/or Eat Tumeric and Ginger
Inflammation also affects the immune system. And anti-inflammatory foods, which are among our tips to stay healthy this Holiday Season, fight inflammation (2).
To decrease inflammation in your body and boost your immune system:
- Eat or take turmeric and ginger supplements daily through the Winter
- Remove high-sugar and high-carbohydrate foods by eating Keto Zone
- Increase omega-3 intake (as directed below)
As you follow these guidelines, you can reduce inflammation, improve immune function, and even reduce the risk of seasonal depression (3).
4. Get Sleep – Lots of It
Sleep is another lifestyle factor directly tied to immune function. In fact, many studies now show that sleep is crucial for immune function, fighting chronic disease, and brain health (4).
What is adequate sleep?
Most experts agree that you need at least 6 hours of high-quality sleep per night, and preferably 8-9 hours.
5. Take Vitamin D throughout the Autumn and Winter
Vitamin D also plays an important role in immune function. During the Autumn and Winter, most people don’t synthesize or consume enough vitamin D. This can lead to more illness.
A 2017 analysis of more than 11,000 participants in the British Medical Journal showed that those with vitamin D levels of <10 ng/mL had a higher risk of respiratory infections compared to those at 10 ng/mL or greater (5).
Other studies point to the same.
6. Load up on Antioxidants from Supreme Foods
Spices, fresh vegetables, fermented vegetables, grasses, coffee, and cacao are all examples of high antioxidant foods. They help boost the immune function.
If you’re in the Keto Zone, you may find it hard to get enough high-antioxidant foods without eating carbohydrate-rich vegetables and fruits. An easy solution is to add Divine Health Fermented Green Supremefood and Organic Red Supremefood.
Supremefoods powders are loaded with antioxidants. They contain:
- Beets: Beets contain betanins that contribute to three main disease-fighting actions: fighting free radicals, reducing inflammation, and supporting cellular detoxification (6, 7).
- Spirulina: Spirulina has been found to improve immune functions and anemia status (8).
- Fermented Wheatgrass: Proteins found in wheatgrass are known to prevent many diseases, oxidative stress, primary metabolism, storage, and energy-related mechanisms (9).
It’s easy to add a dose of antioxidants with Divine Health Supreme Foods.
7. Hydrate Adequately Every Day
Your body and your immune system need adequate hydration to stay healthy. In fact, the better hydrated you are the better your lymph system will work to drain your body of toxins.
But, it can be tough to drink enough during cold winter months.
Try to drink to a schedule if needed by drinking 32 ounces by noon and another 32 ounces by 6pm.
You can hydrate with water, unsweetened teas, and other Keto Zone drinks.
8. Keep Zinc Sprays or Lozenges On Hand and Use It at First Sign of Symptoms
Have you ever tried zinc spray and lozenge products that claim to shorten the duration of colds (Cold-Eeze, Zicam, etc)? Well, they are worth a try as the zinc, when applied to the mouth, nose, and/or back of the throat can stop viruses from replicating.
It may not kill the viruses that are already there, but it will stop the cold from continuing.
9. Take a Daily Dose of Elderberry
Elderberry is a traditional berry that is known for its amazing virus and bacteria-fighting properties.
In fact, it helps our bodies make antibodies against influenza, fights viruses, fights streptococcus, and reduces upper respiratory infections (10).
What’s more, you can easily make your own elderberry syrup health tonic. Here’s our recipe.
10. Drink Diluted Apple Cider Vinegar to Keep Sinuses Draining
Organic apple cider vinegar has been used for years in folk medicine, and now mainstream medicine, as a remedy for colds, sinus infections, and more.
One great benefit that will help you stay healthy this Holiday Season: drinking diluted apple cider vinegar makes your sinuses drain. Why is this helpful?
The more you can drain your sinuses before they get stuffed, the less chance you have to develop a sinus infection.
Of note, apple cider vinegar is an ingredient in the elderberry health tonic above.
If you choose to drink it on its own, make sure to dilute it! Try 2 tablespoons organic apple cider vinegar in 16 ounces of water twice per day (you can sweeten it with non-carbohydrate sweeteners if desired). You may need to plug your nose and drink! Drinking apple cider vinegar without diluting can harm your esophagus, so make sure to dilute!
11. Flush Sinuses with a Neti Pot
Speaking of sinuses, another great ancient practice is using a neti pot to flush your sinuses. This keeps them clear and can flush out harmful viruses and bacteria.
When using a neti pot, you will pour sterile water or saline solution (make sure to use a sterile or boiled solution) up through one nostril, into the other, and out of the body. While it may sound uncomfortable or awkward, it actually feels fine and really clears out a stuffed nose!
12. Get Outside as Much as Possible
Where are germs found? Generally, indoors where people congregate.
Some experts believe another reason we get sick more often during the winter months is simply that we are stuck inside more.
So, get outside every day, as much as you can. Not only will you escape some germs, but you’ll also get a bit of a boost in Vitamin D.
13. Consume Omega-3s Every Day
Omega-3 fats, from seafood or supplements, are vital to health and boost the immune system by reducing inflammatory hormones. In fact, most diets are high in omega-6 fats, which fight omega-3s. This imbalance can lead to inflammation and numerous chronic conditions.
Aim for 8-12 ounces of fatty fish per week, or a daily supplement of omega-3s.
14. Take Extra Vitamin C
The research and conclusions on vitamin C and viruses are mixed, but there’s enough positive research to take vitamin C when you’re at risk.
You can try taking 500-1000 mg per day for a potential immune system boost.
Fortunately, you will excrete any extra vitamin C you take, so there’s little risk of too much.
15. Don’t Stress Too Much About Getting Sick
With all this talk about getting sick, it’s easy to stress too much about it.
The problem?
Chronically high cortisol, the stress hormone, also increases the risk of getting sick and weakening the immune system. So, try not to stress. Do what you can, following the tips above to stay well, and then let it be.
The Winter and the Holidays are a time for reflection, thanksgiving, and cheer – reduce any stress you can!
Bottom Line
You can boost your immune system each day with our 15 tips to stay healthy this Holiday Season. Most of them are easy habits to develop, improve mood and overall health, and can be used by everyone in the family. Here’s to good Holiday Health!
