During the rainy season, people tend to be more susceptible to colds or flu. The cold and wet weather can lower your immune system, making it easier for viruses to spread and you become more susceptible to infection.

During the rainy season, people tend to gather indoors. Transmission of the virus from one individual to another becomes easier because cold and flu viruses can be carried by droplets when people talk, sneeze or laugh, especially in closed and crowded rooms. To prevent getting sick during the rainy season, you need to keep your immune system strong.

How to Boost Your Immune System in Rainy Season

By boosting your immune system, you will be able to fight off viruses that enter your body and avoid getting sick. Even if it's just a cough or cold, being sick can still affect your quality of life and reduce your performance at work. Here's how to boost your immune system during the rainy season:

Adequate body nutrition and hydration

A nutritionally balanced diet can play an important role in supporting the body's overall health, including strengthening the immune system. Opt for foods that are rich in good nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, antioxidants, and minerals like zinc and selenium to help maintain immunity.

Vitamin C can be found in various fruits, such as oranges, strawberries, mangoes, kiwi, and so on. It helps support various cell functions of the immune system and protects cells from free radical damage. Meanwhile, you can eat oily fish such as salmon and sardines, egg yolks, and mushrooms to get vitamin D. This vitamin can encourage the production of immune cells that fight microbes.

Zinc and selenium can be found in seeds and nuts, which you can consume as healthy snacks. It's also important to stay hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day.

Read more: Manfaat Zinc (Seng) bagi Kesehatan Tubuh

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is not only effective for weight loss or maintenance. Regular physical activity can significantly affect immunity, reducing the risk of inflammation in the body and stimulating cellular immunity. Through exercise, there is an increased response from immune cells against microbes that cause infection. You can choose an at-home exercise routine such as yoga, brisk walking, weight lifting, or working out at the gym.

Get enough, quality sleep

Sleep is something that is often overlooked, even though adequate and quality sleep is important to keep the immune system strong. During sleep, the immune system releases proteins called cytokines that help promote sleep and fight infection or inflammation. Cytokine production is reduced when you don't get enough sleep. So, lack of sleep can weaken your body's ability to fight infection and make you more susceptible to getting sick.

Read more: Tips Cepat Tidur dengan Metode Militer

Managing stress

The immune system plays an important role in defending the body against germs and infections. However, stress can have a negative impact on the immune system's abilities. Both short- and long-term stress can disrupt the balance of the immune system. When stressed, the body secretes stress hormones that can suppress immune system function.

Maintain hygiene

In addition to the things above, it is very important to maintain personal hygiene by washing your hands more often with soap and clean water. Observe sneezing and coughing etiquette to prevent germs from sticking to the surface of frequently touched objects. Don't forget to keep your room and living space clean to significantly reduce the risk of spreading the disease.

Colds and flu will generally resolve on their own within a few days. However, if your symptoms do not improve, even after resting, you should consult a doctor for appropriate treatment recommendations.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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