Top 5 tips to Stay Healthy in your daily routine?

TIP #1 Wash Your Hands

Germs are easily spread by hands when you touch surfaces, food, other hands, or even your own eyes and nose—and just think how often each happens in less than 24 hours! That’s why washing your hands properly throughout the day is crucial. Washing thoroughly is especially key before and after any events or activities where germs are prevalent.

Remember to lather with soap and water and scrub your palms, the backs of your hands, in between your fingers, and under your nails. In all, it should take about 20 seconds to properly disinfect your hands. (Most know by now that singing Happy Birthday twice through is an easy way to time it. If that’s gotten stale, try any of these that NPR compiled.)

TIP #2 Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is just as crucial in the winter as it is in the summer. The drier winter air created by indoor heating systems might actually lead to increased water loss just from breathing, not to mention the havoc it can wreak on the nasal passages. Your mucus acts like a sticky flytrap to keep infections from going any further, so when it gets dried out, germs can more easily take hold.

If drinking ice-cold water doesn’t hold much appeal in the winter months, switch to a mug of something steamy, like herbal tea or even hot chocolate. Also helpful: many fruits and vegetables are 90–95% water! Yet another reason to get your 5+ servings a day.

TIP #3 Stay Active!

Don’t let the weather report keep you from your daily workout. Exercising in colder temperatures actually has some surprising benefits: your heart doesn’t have to work as hard, you sweat less, and you expend less energy. All in all, it may make for a more efficient workout.

A past study on how temperature affects the body suggests that simply the act of shivering in the cold can help transform stubborn belly and thigh fat into calorie-burning fat. Imagine what a workout on top of that could do!  Plus, it gets you sun exposure, which can help ward off seasonal affective disorder and keep your mood lifted. (Just don’t skip the sunscreen, even in December.) Exercise has the added benefit of releasing mood-lifting endorphins.

With proper stretching and the right layers, you really can enjoy physical activity outside, year-round.

TIP #4 Eat Nutritious Foods

When sleet and ice hit, we often turn to our favorite comfort foods to warm us up. Try to limit your intake of butter, cream, and cheese and go for plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies instead. Proper nutrition actually helps support your immune system, providing it with energy and nutrients so it can continue to function optimally. (There’s a reason for the saying “feed a cold”—though you should feed a fever, too!)

Want to balance the urge for something cozy and the need for nutrition? Try healthy variations, like lentil or chicken soup that can feel warming from top to toe.

TIP #5  Supplement Your Diet With Vitamins

Maybe it’s a lack of summery produce or maybe it’s just your ever-present busy schedule—whatever the reason, you might need to up your vitamin intake this winter with the help of daily supplements.

Vitamin C has built a reputation as a go-to when cold symptoms pop up, but you can also take it regularly before you start to feel under the weather. Vitamin C contributes to your immune system’s natural defenses, helping keep pathogens out and promoting the fight against oxidative stress.* On the flip side, a Vitamin C deficiency impairs your immune system and makes you more susceptible to infections. Keep your daily intake dialed in by adding New Chapter®’s Fermented Activated C Complex supplement to your routine.