Although the winter months are nearly over, we are still susceptible to irritating illnesses such as colds and the flu. The frequent change in weather as winter fades away can often disrupt our immune system and wreak havoc with those who have a lower resistance to illnesses.
To maintain a healthy lifestyle and well-being, it is important to understand why common illnesses such as these are dangerous. It is also important to understand how you can protect yourself and boost your own immune system to avoid becoming run down and unwell.
Why Colds and the Flu Are Bad News?
This might be obvious, but if you don’t take time to get better, colds and flu can have long-lasting consequences and can damage your health. For example, if a cold is left untreated, it can sometimes lead to ear infections or even sinusitis (although cases of this are rare). Flu, on the other hand, can lead to life-threatening complications such as pneumonia and worsen cases of heart disease.
Aside from the potential lasting effects, both common colds and the flu generally make you feel unwell. You can become lethargic with little energy, disoriented and confused, and even have cold sweats. We all know the feeling of having a cold or flu. They are debilitating illnesses that make everything seem like an effort!
How Can You Protect Yourself and Improve Your Well-Being?
So, what can you do to boost your immune system and stay healthy? Vitamins actually play a key part in the battle against illness. There are a variety of different vitamins that can improve our well-being and boost our resistance to colds and the flu. It’s worth mentioning that vitamins are best absorbed through maintaining a healthy diet. However, vitamins can also be taken as a supplement if you need to treat a deficiency fast.
Our bodies require a balanced mix of vitamins including A, B, C, D, E, and K. Each of these vitamins offers different benefits to our body. For example, B vitamins can help improve our muscle function. The most important vitamin to combat colds and the flu are vitamin C. You can find it in citrus fruits, broccoli, kale, kiwi, peppers, and other vegetables. Another important immunity-boosting nutrient is vitamin A. It can be found in meat, especially liver, fish, dairy products, as well as green, leafy vegetables like kale, and orange vegetables and fruits like carrots apricots, and mangos.
Aside from vitamins, you can also boost your immune system by eating healthy and trying to lead a balanced lifestyle with regular exercise. If you can keep your body and mind active, and provide yourself with plentiful sources of vitamins, then the common cold and the flu should be a thing of the past!
The infographic below created by medalerthelp.org provides additional information about different types of vitamins and their uses:
