Eating well can help, but staying well during cold and flu season ...

WinterH e a l t h y I d e a s f o r t h e S e a s o nWintertime is here. That means cold weather, shorterdays, longer nights and unfortunately cold and flu season.Sneezes, sniffles and coughs are all too often the sounds ofthe season. While there is no single secret to staying healthyall winter long, eating well can help you stay well.Boosting Your Immune SystemA balanced, healthy diet can help to boost your immunesystem. Eating well actually helps fuel your defenses.And if you do get sick, a stronger immune systemcan help you recover a little faster, or at least feela little better while you’re under the weather.Premium FuelEating a healthy balanced diet is like giving yourimmune system premium fuel. Nutrient rich foodsgive your body the vitamins, antioxidants and proteins yourimmune system needs to be at full power. That means fruits andvegetables, whole grains, lean protein, low fat dairy, nuts andbeans, and water or other low calorie beverages to stay hydrated.No Silver BulletsEating many foods that are good sources of vitamins, antioxidantsand other nutrients is one of the best ways to help strengthen yourdefenses. There is also lots of talk about specific foods or beverages- soy, probiotic yogurts, green tea, and other ‘immune boosters’are showing up in the news. Some research has shown that thesefoods, and others, can benefit the immune system. However,no one food or beverage is a ‘silver bullet’. Instead, expertsrecommend making broad improvements to your diet to helpboost your defenses.A well functioning immune system does not guarantee you asniffle-free winter, but by eating well, you can improve yourodds of staying in good health.Eating well can help, but staying well duringcold and flu season takes more than justgood nutrition. Here are a few other tipsfor staying well this winter:Stay ActiveRegular exercise has been shown to boost theimmune system. While it may be cold outside,don’t forget to find ways to stay active – insideor out.Stay HydratedThe cold dry air of winter can dehydrateyou and weaken your immune system. Stayhydrated, with water and other low caloriebeverages, all winter longStay RestedA little extra sleep may be the shot in thearm that you need. Research shows thatlack of sleep can affect the immune system.So make sure you’re getting enough rest.Stay WarmDress in layers and don’t forget to take a hatand gloves along as you head outdoors.Stay Germ FreeJoin the nationwide effort to prevent thespread of germs by washing your handsfrequently and thoroughly.Stay in Touch with Your DoctorTalk with your doctor about seasonal vaccinesand other preventative recommendations to seewhat’s right for you.

N U T R I T I O N A L I N F O R M A T I O N P E R S E R V I N GCalories: 100Carbohydrate: 20gProtein: 2gTotal Fat: 1.5gSaturated Fat: 0.5 mgA Proud ADA Partner