Rainy days are good days for a lot of people. The downpour makes staying in bed the whole day such a huge temptation. It is also this kind of lazy weather that makes reading a book and sipping tea so in fashion. Not to mention putting those stylish boots and jackets out of temporary retirement.
But while the rainy season is good time to be snuggling in bed and binge-watching all the TV show episodes you missed, it is also the season that makes us more vulnerable. We’re not talking about getting all emotional while listening to Adele (although we’d totally understand if you found yourself in this situation); we’re talking about the vulnerability of the human body. Staying healthy during the rainy season needs some effort because the weather could easily make us sick. A lot of common illnesses are usually attributed to the rainy season such as colds, cough, and flu. While there are steps you should definitely take to keep your condo space safe during the rainy season, the best thing to do is to take care of your own health.
Don’t let these illnesses ruin your love affair with the rainy season and find out ways to keep rainy season illnesses away.
Down something hot
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Hot meals such as hearty soup are a perfect match for the rainy weather. They don’t only taste naturally better during these days, but they also fight off flu and cold symptoms. Several studies have shown that downing something hot improves the condition of flu patients faster than those that take in fluids at room temperature. When you’re feeling you are about to get down with flu, make sure to include soup and hot drinks in your list of rainy day recipes. Pumpkin and cinnamon soup sounds lovely on a rainy day, doesn’t it?
Drink some tea
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You might want to switch that cup of coffee with a soothing pot of freshly brewed green tea. It has epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which can stop the influenza virus from entering your system. A type of catechin, EGCG may also prevent pneumonia-causing bacteria from entering the body. Instead of sugar, use honey as a healthier sweetener.
Eat Greek yogurt
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Aside from hot meals and fluids, you must also include Greek yogurt to your diet. Yogurt does not only help in weight management; it has probiotics which also help reduce the risk of catching these rainy day bugs. Eat one serving a day and go for the yogurt with live cultures.
Sprinkle rosemary
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Rosemary does not only make food smell nice. It is one of the healthiest herbs you can have in your kitchen. Rosemary contains substances that improve the immune system, which always comes under attack during the rainy season. It also contains anti-inflammatory compounds to reduce the risk of asthma. The next time you whip up a dish, sprinkle this wonder herb generously.
Say no to booze
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While drinking alcohol may be very appealing during the rainy days, you must try to cut back on booze. Heavy drinking can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to diseases. It also dehydrates you.
Perfect time to quit smoking
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Smokers may find puffing a cigarette very tempting during a cool downpour. But haven’t you noticed that smokers get colds more frequently than non-smokers? This is because nicotine hurts the immune system, the body’s defense against germs. Smoke dries out passages in the nose and affects the cilia or the delicate hairs in the nose and lungs that brush off flu viruses. The rainy season is a perfect time to permanently take a break from cigarettes.
Keep hands off your face
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Avoiding touching your face is one way of staying healthy during the rainy season. Viruses enter the body through openings such as the eyes, nose, and mouth. A 2013 study found that people who touch their eyes and nose more often are 41% more likely to develop upper respiratory infections. Make sure to also wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This is still better than a dollop of sanitizer.
Load up on tissue
We use our hands often throughout the day. We use them when we work, meet people, cook--the list goes on and on. Please don’t use them when you sneeze or when you have to muffle your cough. Viruses cling to bare hands so use a tissue instead. If you don’t have one, sneeze into the crook of your elbow. You don’t use that to interact with people.
Sweat out the symptoms
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When you are starting to get flu-like symptoms, switch on your immune system by working out. Living in a condo will make this fairly easy because an indoor gym is usually available. You may also perform home exercises at home by turning your living space into a Wi-Fi less living room. Instead of browsing social media updates, get off the couch and sweat it out.
Get some shuteye
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They call cool, rainy days bed weather because staying in bed is simply the best during this time of the year. If that’s the case, make sure you more Z’s. Not getting enough hours of sleep is a nightmare for the immune system and can alter the way your genes function. Brush up your condo lifestyle by getting a comfortable mattress, dark curtains, and mood lighting.
Hum illnesses away
Do you like humming your favorite tunes? Well, this is the perfect time to hum away. Scientists at the University of Virginia found that humming annoys germs. The vibrating sound that you make produces nitric oxide inside the nose, which kills bacteria cells that carry flu-causing viruses. Another technique is to take a deep breath, close one nostril, and exhale from the other nostril as you hum. This is said to relieve allergy sufferers.
Blanch your greens
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Bacteria are often found in produce. Reduce the risk of getting sick by blanching your greens in boiling water for two minutes. Make sure that you have cold water waiting so that you may dunk blanched greens in there and retain their natural flavor. Rainy day recipes should include a lot of vegetables but make sure they are clean and bacteria-free.
Wait it out
When it begins to pour, try to wait it out. Go inside a convenience store or a mall and don’t risk getting wet on your commute. This is what makes condo living convenient. Compounds are typically surrounded by a lot of establishments where you can take temporary shelter. Condos are also usually in close proximity to business districts so you can reach home faster and dryer.
Take a shower immediately
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Another advantage of living close to work is that you get to shower immediately and not stay soaking wet for a long time. The body is vulnerable to diseases when there is change in temperature. Going into the shower would stabilize the cold temperature and then slowly shift your body back to your normal temperature.
Take your vitamins
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Aside from adopting a healthy diet and exercising, load up on your vitamins especially during the rainy season. Vitamin C is an essential to build body resistance and reduce the risk of falling to illnesses. Vitamin E is also helpful in protecting the body and reducing harsh symptoms.
There is no reason to dislike the rainy days because of the threat of diseases. The best thing to do is to protect yourself so that you can enjoy the cool weather as much as you want.