Winter has come to El Paso. And with it, the sniffles, coughs, and colds.
I grew up hearing that if you get too cold, you’ll get sick. This is ingrained in me. Sleeping with less than two or three heavy blankets was a big no-no. So was going outside without five layers of clothing.
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As a kid, I hated this. Now as a mom, I see the thought process behind it.
But I want to do right by my kids. I strive to make well-informed decisions in every area of our lives. So, I’ve done a lot of research on how cold weather affects us and why it seems like people tend to get sick a lot more in the winter.
First, the cold weather itself doesn’t make us sick. But it does create conditions that make us more susceptible to getting sick:
- The flu virus thrives in the cold, making it more active, resilient, and contagious in the winter.
- Our immune system slows down in cold weather.
- We tend to spend more time indoors which increases our contact with germs and limits our sun exposure.
We can’t do anything about the weather, but we can find ways to beef up our immune system and restrict our exposure to germs. Here are a few tips that I’ve found useful.
Tips to Boost the Immune System
- Stay hydrated.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Ensure adequate nutrition.
- Vitamin D helps the immune system fight off infections. Vitamin D can be found in fish, milk (cow and non-dairy alternatives like soy, almond, and rice), yogurt, fortified cheese, and mushrooms.
- Vitamin C does not prevent colds, but it does reduce the severity of symptoms and shortens how long we’re sick. Consume plenty of vegetables rich in Vitamin C like red bell peppers, citrus fruits, tomatoes, white potatoes, kiwi, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli), and strawberries
- Pair these with iron-rich foods for best results. Examples include meat, poultry, seafood, legumes, nuts, seeds, dark leafy greens, and enriched grain products.
Tips to Limit Exposure to Germs
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Sneeze/cough into the inside of your elbow or clean tissues.
- Do not share food, drinks, or utensils with other people.
- Clean and disinfect high-traffic areas in your home (doorknobs, sink faucets, keyboards, TV remotes, kitchen counters, etc).
Cold temperatures don’t make us sick, germs do.
Phew!
But research does indicate that cold weather creates conditions that help germs thrive. We need to counteract this by boosting our immune system and avoiding contact with germs. Incorporating these simple tips into our everyday routines, especially during the colder months, should help keep our families healthy.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
