Winter Wellness

Winter is here and along with it, those nasty infections we all dread. Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse want to make sure you and your family have the best advice to get through winter healthy and happy. 

Get vaccinated! 

The best way to protect yourself from both the flu and COVID-19 are to ensure your vaccinations are up to date. We recommend getting your flu vaccine between March and June to cover you for the peak flu season and adults should consider a COVID-19 booster if their last vaccine or confirmed COVID infection was more than 6 months ago.

Eat well

The best foods to eat to help your immune system function optimally are whole foods that are rich in nutrients. It is recommended that you eat 5-7 serves of vegetables, 2 serves of fruit and minimise consumption of processed foods. Populations that eat more fresh produce have been shown to have an improved immune function! 

Moderation is the key when it comes to drinking alcohol. Studies have shown after a single episode of binge drinking, immune response is considerably lowered, making it more likely to get sick. 

Healthy living

Unsurprisingly, exercise has been shown to help you stay healthy over the winter season. Research has shown that moderate exercise (e.g. 40-45 minute brisk walk 5 days per week) significantly reduces the chance of getting a respiratory infection.  In an example of too much of a good thing, high intensity exercise over long periods of time was actually shown to cause a decrease in immune function.  

Getting enough sleep is really important with studies showing that at least 7 hours a night of sleep can reduce your risk of catching a cold. Lack of sleep has also been linked to longer recovery times when you are ill. 

People who suffer from chronic stress in their lives are more likely to get sick as long term stress hormones can overwhelm your immune system.  We are aware that removing stress from your life is not always possible but learning how to manage it may improve your overall health and wellbeing.  Socialising with friends, mindfulness activities and apps, meditation, exercise and yoga are all fantastic tools to use when trying to manage stress.

Hygiene matters 

One of the best ways to keep the germs away is to have a good hand washing technique.  Always keep hand sanitiser handy for when there are no hand washing facilities available. Try to not touch your mouth, nose and eyes regularly as this can spread infection. 

If you do get infected by a cold or flu make sure when sneezing and coughing you are using tissues and throwing them away immediately after use and washing your hands. Try to avoid contact with others when you are unwell. When really unwell, it is best to stay home from work rather than share your illness around the workplace. 

To book your vaccination now please click here