Winter is one of the happiest times of the year, full of family and holidays. But it can also be one of the most detrimental seasons to one’s health, causing colds and sickness to spread around. With holiday food and time off from work and school, it is easy to lose sight of maintaining one’s health. Thankfully, there are many simple ways of staying healthy and in good shape, and we discuss these tips!
Transmountain Primary Care in El Paso is here to help if you require a primary care physician or want more information about staying healthy this winter. Contact us online or call (915) 248-2345 to learn more.
Stay Hydrated
One of the most important habits to maintain is staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water. While it can get busy this time of year, it is essential to prioritize hydration in everyday life. Just as one carries water around in the summer, it is just as important to stay hydrated when it is cold out.
Get Some Sun
Soaking up sunlight offers many health benefits, such as:
- The best source of vitamin D
- Supports your circadian rhythm
- Improves sleep
- Maintains and supports bone health
- Reduces stress
- Boosts mood
- Strengthens the immune system
If you spend most of your time indoors, you should get at least 30 minutes of sunlight every day.
Stay Active
Staying active and exercising is another great source of supporting one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Primary care physicians recommend it due to its extensive list of benefits. If you want to exercise more this winter, it is recommended to get moving 4 to 5 days every week, for at least 30 minutes each day. Staying active can help maintain weight, especially with all the holiday food or leftovers!
Get Up to Date with Vaccines
Vaccines are especially important in the winter due to all the illnesses and infections, including the flu, strep, and the common cold. If you are behind on your vaccines, you can schedule an appointment with Transmountain Primary to update them!
Make Sure You Are Getting Your Vitamins
In addition to vitamin D, it is important to eat nutritious, healthy foods to treat our bodies to many essential vitamins. As we have briefly mentioned, this is important to one’s immunity and strength to fight infection. Even better, getting the right vitamins can help your body from contracting illnesses!
Eat to Boost Immunity
Some of the best foods to eat to strengthen your immune system includes:
- Yogurt with live cultures
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Citrus fruits
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Dark chocolate
- Turmeric
- Fish
Incorporating these foods into your daily diet can make a world of difference regarding your immune system. Make sure to eat these foods at least a few servings each day!
Wash Your Hands Often
One of the easiest tips of all is washing your hands regularly. Too many viruses pass around during the winter, especially through physical contact or touch. Some of the best times to wash hands (aside from using the bathroom) include:
- After touching highly-touched surfaces
- Coming back home from public places, stores, work, school
- Before meals
Protect Your Heart
There are many ways you can not only protect your heart but also encourage heart health. Some of the best tips include:
- A heart-healthy diet of fruits, veggies, protein, less saturated fat, and sugar
- Exercise
- Reduce stress
- Cutting out alcohol
It is easy to drink during the winter season with celebrations and holidays, but drinking in moderation (if not cutting out alcohol) is an important habit to maintain to protect your heart, recommended by primary care physicians.
Stay In Good Shape with Help from Our Professionals
When you regularly visit a primary care physician from our clinic, you can help to ensure you stay healthy during the winter months. Contact us online or call (915) 248-2345 today to schedule an appointment and speak with a professional regarding your health concerns.
