With so many viruses circulating around the winter months and given the addition of the COVID-19 pandemic, you want to make sure that you aren’t providing a breeding ground for these nasty illnesses. Yet as a student, it can be difficult to do so given our hectic schedules and I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that our meals typically consist of tinned food or microwaved leftovers. I hope that these following points provide you with some simple and non-time consuming changes that you could make in your daily habits.

Get in your 5 a day

Fruits and vegetables are part of a healthy balanced diet and help ensure you get your vitamins and minerals. As they’re low in sugar and calories, you don’t have to constantly keep track of your intake and their wide variety will mean you never get bored of eating the same thing every day! Add them into your daily snack routine to avoid consuming all the normal junk you eat (candy, biscuits, ice cream etc.) that does nothing for you but leave you in a guilt-ridden state. It’s also a bonus for those who love working with colours but really what’s not to like about the aesthetic and cheerful looking rainbow scheme?

Substitute meat with fish as part of your protein

With so many meat-free options nowadays given the rise in awareness of the damaging impacts of the meat industry on both our health and the environment, try substituting your meat-based protein reliance with more fish options that have a lower footprint and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which. They promote better memory, eye health, immune system functioning and fight depression and anxiety all of which are highly relevant to the needs of students!

Power drinks

Water is a must but if you’re coming down with a sore throat, I suggest you either down some saltwater, which is simple and cheap, or mix honey and lemon with warm water. Both help to clear the mucus and possess anti-bacterial and inflammatory properties to boost your immune system. If you’ve got a cold it would be wise to drink some hot tea or warm soup.

Garlic is also a superfood as it helps boost the T-cells in your bloodstream and therefore fight viruses. Its high Allicin content also makes it an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant. That’s why I swear by chopping up a clove and putting it in freshly boiled water to make an immune-boosting tea, but you could easily sprinkle some on top of your meals too!

Prevention is better than cure

Sometimes, even after taking all the necessary precautions, you may still be one of the unlucky ones to catch a nasty bug. One way to boost your prevention mechanism is to get yourself a quick and simple to use Boots’ nasal spray to help shorten your recovery time or reduce the severity of the symptoms if you really end up catching the cold or flu – freshers take note!

Lastly, I would also advise getting an adequate amount of shut-eye. Going out and getting some fresh air also increases your Vitamin D intake levels which is even more important during the winter season.