How to stay healthy this winter | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Beverly Anderson, Ebenezer Child Care Centers
January 11, 2017
(Photo by Kelly Meyerhofer)
Below are some tips to stay healthy this winter.
Get a flu shot
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get the seasonal flu and spread it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread throughout that community.”
Prevention is the best medicine. Each member of your family over six months of age should be getting an injectable flu vaccination.
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Wash your hands
Another important thing you can do to keep your family healthy is teach your children the importance of washing their hands.
At our child care centers we teach children to thoroughly wash their hands, including between their fingers and under their nails, with soap and warm water. We have them sing the ABC song while washing their hands, so they are lathered for a full 30 seconds to kills germs.
Eat healthy
Another important thing to make sure of is that your family is eating well-balanced, healthy meals every day.
When you are nourished with the proper fruits, vegetables and proteins, you are helping boost your immune system by making sure your body is getting all of the vitamins it needs to operate at its best and fight off any viruses it might come into contact with.
Exercise
Research has proven that stress can be harmful to a person’s immune system, so you should continue exercising daily during the winter months. Despite the cold weather outside, your body will benefit.
Slow down and get plenty of rest
You should never discount the importance of getting a good night’s rest when it comes to staying healthy. Children under one year old should be getting 14-15 hours of sleep per day; one- to three-year-olds should be getting 12-14 hours; three- to six-year-olds should be getting 10-12 hours; seven- to 13-year-olds should be getting 10-11 hours; and 12-year-olds up to adults should be getting eight to nine hours per day.
If your family members aren’t getting the proper amount of rest, they could be at risk for catching an unwanted virus. Embrace the shorter hours of daylight and get some sleep. This will help your body naturally restore itself.