How to Boost your Immune System this Winter

Winter days are fast approaching, the temperature drops slowly but steadily and will soon favour colds and seasonal flus. There is no need, however, to just surrender to the moods and whims of the weather and the season! Strengthening our immune system, will allow us to shield our health against viruses and colds. Keep reading and you will discover 4 key tips that will help you shield your body and strengthen your immune system.
 
1. Nutrient-Dense Meals  
Strengthening your immune response by improving your diet is a no-brainer. The key lies in making the correct nutritional choices: fruits (especially citrus fruits and kiwis) and vegetables (red peppers, broccoli, spinach, garlic) –preferably organic and seasonal-, whole grain cereals, legumes, fishes, and lean white and red meat make the best foundation for healthy meals that will fill your body with all the nutrients you need. 
Also, make sure to hydrate your body well. Drink plenty of water throughout the day (even if you don’t feel intense thirst) and include in your daily diet foods rich in vitamins and famous for their medicinal qualities, such as honey, mushrooms, ginger, yoghurt, and various unsalted nuts, especially almonds and sunflower seeds. 
Still, it is not just what you eat, but also what you don’t. Avoid sugar as much as possible since it’s the best fuel for all sorts of inflammations, as well as processed foods, which usually have great amounts of salt and artificial preservatives. 

2. Exercise for a Healthy Lifestyle 
Upon hearing the words “exercise” or “workout” most people think of exhaustive running and weight lifting in gyms, while yelled at by strict personal trainers. 
To maintain good physical stamina, not much is required other than 20 – 30 minutes of mild exercise 3 times a week which are more than enough to detoxify your body, expedite your metabolism rate, and improve the efficiency of the white blood cells (our health’s police officers). 

3. Dietary Supplements  
It’s crucial to eat foods rich in vitamins that focus on boosting the immune system.
Such vitamins are:
-Vitamin C that you will find in foods such as orange, grapefruit, tangerine, or red peppers and papaya.
-Vitamin D that you will find in foods such as fatty dairy products, liver, fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and egg yolks. 
 -Zinc that you can get by eating lean meat, poultry, whole grains, sesame, tahini, pumpkin seeds and nuts.
Vitamin A also helps the immune system function efficiently, and you will find it in sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, red and green peppers, pears and eggs.

4. Sleep Well  

Last but not least, sleep; or, to be more accurate, sleep well. 7-8 hours of good night rest allows the body to repair its worn-out tissues, fight off inflammations and virus infections and improve its immune response.  
If you have trouble sleeping, try using essential oils, especially lavender. A few drops on your pillow or around your bedroom will soothe your nervous system and help you enjoy deep and restful sleep. 
Prevention, good hygiene and a strong immune system are some of the key elements to enjoying a winter without colds and seasonal viruses!  
Visit the Parapharmacie e-shop now and discover a huge range of multi-vitamins and dietary supplements that will be your best allies during the rough months ahead of us! 

At Parapharmacie you can discover a huge range of cold preventing products and shop easily and safely online, from the comfort of your own home!