Well-being Top Tips
Everyone hates the common cold and during these cold winter
months it’s important that we give our bodies a fighting chance to prevent it.
Sniffling, sneezing, sore throat – none of it very pretty and that’s why we thought
we’d share our top tips for keeping it at bay along with improving your
well-being and boosting your immune system.
Get a
massage
Perhaps it
comes as a surprise but regular massage has been found to improve circulation
whilst also helping to relax muscle tension. As well as enhancing the immune
system Massage is well known for its stress relieving effects. A study published by Carnegie Mellon University found
that the risk of catching a cold was connected to degrees of stress and found that
stress lasting a minimum of one month (especially in those with chronic stress)
were more prone to catching a cold then those of acute stress.
Don’t
smoke, reduce alcohol consumption
Yes, I’m
afraid so. This will no doubt be very unpopular with many but cigarettes and
alcohol consumption can make you more prone to catching a cold, they also tend
to last longer and are more intense. Exposure to smoke can also break down the
immune system, drying your nasal passage.
Eat lots
of fruit, veg and drink lots of water
You should
be eating lots of fruit and vegetables in your diet anyway, oranges are
especially important to fight off colds due to the amount of vitamin C. It
might sound obvious but we often forget how good water is for us. It should
prevent dryness from your nose and throat and generally help to flush out your
system. Drink 8 cups of water throughout the day.
Get plenty
of sleep!
Did you
know that lack of sleep and sickness are connected? It’s been found that fewer
than 7 hours sleep will make you three times more likely than those with 8 or
more hours.
Are you
ready to sweat?
In 1989 a
German study discovered people who exposed themselves to steam in a sauna twice
a week had fewer colds then those that didn’t. An alternative is to perform
intensive exercise that makes you break a sweat for 20 minutes, 5 times a week
or more. This will also reduce your chances of getting a cold but will also
improve you fitness and well-being.