With flu and cold season in our midst, and Omicron delivering a record number of positive COVID tests nationwide, the fight to stay healthy this winter is more critical than ever.
Social distancing and hand sanitizing until our hands crack and bleed don’t have to be our only solutions. We can absolutely do more to stave off a miserable week or two in bed. But it’ll require discipline, dedication and an openness to changing one’s lifestyle—for the better.
Below, you’ll find six tried-and-true habits everyone should adopt to boost their immune systems. Some will seem obvious; others may be surprising. Though one thing they all have in common, besides their sustenance, is that they’re light on the wallet!
1. Sleep
No, this doesn’t give you the excuse to sleep until noon. But it does mean you need at least 8 hours of quality shut-eye daily. According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep and the immune system have a bidirectional relationship, in which lack of sleep can weaken the immune system and prevent it from functioning effectively.
If you’re struggling to turn your mind off at the end of a day, causing you to stay awake at odd hours, then you may want to invest in the Layla® Weighted Blanket from Layla Sleep. Designed with DTP (Deep Touch Pressure), it provides a tight, comforting embrace that helps you decompress and close your eyes to any stresses and anxieties that often cling to you at night.
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2. Limit Stress
Prone to overthinking? Unable to feel calm? Imagine the kind of pressure that puts on your body, which is already working 24/7 shifts to keep you alive and robust. Now it’s being called to release a stress response that, according to HoustonMethodist.org, guides you through stressful situations—but suppresses your immune system at the same time.
Yep, don’t let that happen. At least, not frequently.
The BetterMe mobile app offers quick meditation and self-help programs, along with relaxing sounds and breathing exercises, to limit stress and take that extra load off your mental (and physical!) being. Give it a try. Your purchase of this Android or iOS app will score you $10.10 cash back.
3. Eat Well
You’re probably tired of hearing it by now. But eating well can do plenty for your brain, gut and immunity. We’re not asking you to count calories, but to be mindful of the vitamins and nutrients you’re consuming on an everyday basis.
Brainiac Foods will not be your ideal junk food. It isn’t supposed to be! It is, however, great for snackers who can’t resist eating between meals and simply require additional fuel to power through the day. The healthy kind.
Each Brainiac product is made with clean ingredients and developed with nutritionists and doctors’ expertise. While tasty, the Brain Bar® stores Omega-3 ALA, lutein and choline nutrients that your ordinary granola bar doesn’t. It’s a no-brainer to order a box today and nab 20% off your total with the code BRAINFUEL. Plus, grab a 10.1% cash back bonus on top.
4. Exercise
A membership to your local gym isn’t for everybody’s budget. We get that. Exercise should be inexpensive, and it is! Just taking a daily 30-minute stroll outside will do wonders, because it’ll give your body strength to combat infection, according to WebMD.
The Nike Revolution 5 can endure all the miles you’ll soon walk in the months and years to come. Snag a pair for only $65 at Nike.com and pocket 10% cash back as an added treat.
5. Hydrate
Make sure your water intake is at the highest it can be. HoustonMethodist.org sheds an interesting light on the importance of hydrating. Our circulatory systems contain a fluid called lymph, which is largely composed of water. It sends infection-fighting immune cells throughout our bodies, and when we’re dehydrated, the lymph slows down considerably. Enough said.
blk. water promises immune system support, healthy skin, inflammation reduction, nutrient absorption and strong gut health—all thanks to a little-known secret called Fulvic Fusion™ Technology. It infuses fulvic acid—which carries electrolytes, amino acids, antioxidants and polyphenols—in pure alkaline water.
You can subscribe and save 25% on 12-pack shipments and earn cash back with your purchase. Choose from a dozen flavors and enjoy free shipping to boot.
6. Take Vitamins & Probiotics
There are so many vitamins and probiotics on the market, it’s hard to know where to even begin. Luckily, HUM Nutrition built a 3-minute quiz that will find the right products for you. Your answers will produce an instant personalized nutrient report and give you $10 off your first order, among other exclusive perks.
HUM Nutrition supplements are all triple tested, pure and potent, non-GMO and gluten-free. Whichever ones you’re matched up with, get 5.05% cash back after you shop and spend.
Do you have your own secret to staying healthy during the winter? Sound off in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.
Editor's Note: Promos were correct at time of publication.
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by Diana Oliveira
Diana Oliveira is the senior copywriter at TopCashback.com. After beginning her copywriting career at a paper company, where she harnessed her creative chops writing about…paper, this self-described “bargain shopper” has felt at home talking about our many stores, deals and money-saving tips the last few years.
