6 Tips To Stay Strong And Healthy

It’s that time of the year, but it doesn’t mean a cold has to take you down. Same for the flu. These new science-backed strategies will help keep you strong and healthy.

- Mirel Ketchiff

While flu viruses circulate year round in Singapore, there are two peak transmission periods – with one (between April and June) just round the corner. Which means it’s now time to ramp up your body’s defences against the viruses. Though the flu shot is not 100 per cent effective, experts say that it is still worth getting. There’s no harm, too, in adopting these measures aimed at giving your immune system a boost and helping you stay well.

Choose cardio

Exercise is the number-one thing you can do to keep healthy. People who exercise five or more times a week are 43 per cent less likely to get sick than those who exercise once a week, a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found. Cardio may be especially beneficial, the study’s authors say. “During aerobic exercise, your immune cells move around more throughout the body and bloodstream. As a result, they’re better able to detect and destroy invading pathogens,” explains David Nieman, the lead researcher. Workouts such as running, swimming, cycling and rowing seem to be the most effective, he adds.

Get a little extra sleep