You're Not Getting Enough Vitamin A
You Have Poor Gut Health
We need to pay attention to our bellies, which house good bacteria that aid our immune system. In addition to eating fresh, seasonal foods, fermented and cultured foods give your gut a probiotic kick, which might help protect you against illness.
You Don't Get Enough Vitamin D
Vitamin D, which helps regulate antimicrobial proteins, is key in fighting off colds. But even a diet including eggs, pork, fish, mushrooms and other vitamin D-rich foods isn't typically enough to keep your levels up in the wintertime. For people who live in the north, where there really is a winter and the sun is blocked for most of the day, vitamin D supplements are key to staying healthy.
You Don't Wash Your Hands
Come on, by now you must know that washing your hands frequently, especially during cold and flu season, is the best and easiest way to stay healthy. If you're a nail-biter or face-toucher, it's even more important. Winter dryness can sometimes discourage frequent washing, but invest in a rich hand cream that works for your skin and don't look back. (Unless it's toward the sink, where you're going to wash your hands.)
You're Getting Poor Sleep
Sleep is one way the body protects itself from sickness. So poor sleep—or too little sleep—keeps it from working its magic. Fight hard to get the sleep that you need each night—seven to nine hours for adults. If you don't, you might find yourself coming down with colds more frequently.
You're Dehydrated
Staying hydrated during the winter months is key to staying healthy. Water helps to carry nutrients and minerals around the body. It also keeps your mouth, nose and throat moist, which is necessary to avoid illness by helping produce mucus and saliva barriers and protections.
You Have Bad Oral Health
If you're not brushing, flossing and taking care of your teeth and mouth daily, you're at risk for letting dangerous bacteria get out of control. This causes inflammation not only in your mouth but elsewhere in your body, too. All of it leaves your immune system weak when it comes to fighting against cold and flu viruses.
