You are more likely to become sick with a cold or flu during the winter. This is because people spend more time indoors and within enclosed spaces, where infections can spread. Moreover, cold temperatures help viruses survive longer, while the lower air humidity enables them to more easily attach to people's airway receptors. However, you can avoid the need for a physician by boosting your immune system during winter. Here are a few ways to help you do that.

How to Boost Your Immune System in the Winter

1. Eat the Right Foods

Start by choosing foods that promote health and wellness. For instance, fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants, which eliminate free radicals—or unstable molecules—that damage the body and cause oxidative stress. Vitamins C and E, to name just two, boost cells that eliminate infectious and malignant agents. Leafy greens, berries, and cooking spices are all teeming with antioxidants.

Furthermore, avoid foods that can weaken your system. Processed foods, sugar, and gluten are all examples of foods to shun if you want vigorous immune function this winter.

2. Choose a Healthy Lifestyle

In addition to choosing the right foods, make other healthy lifestyle choices during the winter months. For instance, regular physical exercise boosts immune function, as does achieving an optimal body weight. On the other hand, smoking and overuse of alcohol can weaken your system and make you more susceptible to disease. You should also get vaccinated for current strains of influenza and pneumonia viruses.

3. Get Plenty of Sleep

If you are fatigued or overtired, your body cannot fight off infections effectively, so make sure you get adequate rest. Your body’s T-cells, a key type of white blood cell that contributes to immune response, decrease when you are sleep-deprived. On the other hand, inflammatory cytokines, which boost pathogenic response, increase. Ideally, you should get at least seven or eight hours of sleep per night to fight off illness.

If you need a physician you can trust with your family's health, contact Arete Family Care LLC in Anchorage, AK. They serve patients throughout Anchorage County and the surrounding areas and specialize in men's and women's health, pediatrics, and internal medicine. For your convenience, they offer both doctor's office and telemedicine appointments and are well-known for their compassionate care and friendly staff. Learn more about them by visiting their website or call (907) 777-1850 to make an appointment with a skilled physician.