8 Excellent Ways to Stay Healthy in Winter ...

One of the best ways to stay healthy in winter is to eat right, and that means lots of vegetables. Not only do you need to eat your veggies every day (at least one serving per meal is ideal), you should make sure you eat one serving of leafy green veggies. Kale is perfect, as is spinach or collard greens. You can even get bold or fancy by trying dandelion greens or Swiss chard.

Another essential way to stay healthy in winter is to get all of your vitamins. A daily multivitamin is definitely helpful, but whenever possible, get them straight from the source. Vitamin C is essential, so make sure to eat or drink plenty of citrus. You also want plenty of vitamin D, so make sure you get outside when you can, drink milk, eat some salmon or tuna, or introduce cod liver oil in one of its various forms into your diet.

If you don't get enough sleep, you're much more susceptible to illness. Although you don't want to sleep too much, 'lest you wake up feeling groggy and sleep drugged, try to get 7-9 hours each night, especially in winter. You'll feel more rested, your body has time to recuperate, and your immune system will get stronger.

However, the sad truth is that sometimes you just don't have enough time to get all the sleep you need. In that case, try to grab a catnap throughout the day. It's one of the easiest ways to stay healthy in winter, and it really doesn't take up too much of your time. All you need is 15-20 minutes to doze. Even if you can't sleep, just resting for a short amount of time is helpful.

That being said, staying well in winter means staying active too. It's harder to get out and about when it's cold or snowing, but it's essential. You might have a difficult time getting motivated, but try hard! Even if you just walk the dog or work out in your living room, you're doing your body good. Don't give into a sedentary lifestyle just because it's warm and cozy inside.

You also need to avoid extreme temperatures. It's tempting to turn up the heat at night or while you're in the shower, but it doesn't do you any good. In fact, if you keep it cooler at night, you'll actually sleep better. But don't make it too cold, your body doesn't need that extreme either. Find a median between 68 degrees and 72 degrees.

Keeping yourself germ-free is one of the easiest ways to stay healthy in winter. You don't have to wash your hands every five minutes, but do it regularly. Use a hand sanitizer if you want, and definitely wipe down communal objects, like telephones. Don't sneeze into your hand or mess with your face either; those are sure ways to get sick.

Not that kind of drinking game! Just make sure you stay hydrated! Drinking water is the best way to do that, but natural fruit juices are excellent as well. Hot tea is also your best friend in the winter time, especially if it's an herbal or green tea.

As you can see, some of the best ways to stay healthy in winter involve making time to take care of yourself. Before you start thinking that you don't have that kind of time, remember that it's still exponentially less than the average span it takes to recuperate from the flu, bronchitis, or a particularly nasty cold. Besides, your health is important and your well-being is essential. You have to take care of yourself! What are your favorite home remedies for staying well in winter?