GEA – How to Stay Healthy During Flu Season

Flu season is upon us. Flu viruses circulate from October through May and peak between December and February. During this time, it’s essential that you incorporate preventive measures into your daily life to protect yourself and others. In this blog, we go over simple and effective habits to ensure your well-being.  

Strengthen Your Immune System 

It’s important to keep your immune system strong throughout the entire year, but especially during flu season. Here are a few tips that can help. 

Eat a Balanced Diet  

Incorporating foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats can help support your immune system. Some nutrient-rich foods include the following: 

• Garlic: helps activate cells that fight infections 

• Nuts: lots of vitamin E and B as well as magnesium  

• Broccoli: contains vitamins A, C, and E 

• Ginger: helps fight the flu because of antibacterial and antiparasitic properties 

• Olive oil: rich in antioxidants and fatty acids which help protect against viruses and regulate inflammatory processes 

Stay Hydrated 

This is an important component for maintaining a healthy immune system. Drinking water has many benefits such as the following: 

• Helps circulate blood and lymph (which carry immune cells) throughout the body 

• Helps ensure that cells receive enough oxygen and nutrients to properly function 

• Helps flush waste from the body 

• Helps by moistening the eyes and mouth, repelling dirt and pathogens 

Rest & Recovery 

When our bodies get enough sleep, they produce proteins and white blood cells that help fight infections and inflammation. This is why getting enough rest and sleep is key to keeping your immune system functioning properly, as well as when you start to feel under the weather.  

Good Hygiene Practices 

Ensuring you practice good hygiene is important for preventing the flu or cold. We recommend the following: 

Wash Your Hands 

Use warm water and soap to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. You should wash your hands, not only after you use the restroom, but also before and after these actions: 

• Prepping a meal 

• Treating a wound 

• Touching a frequently touched surface 

You should also wash your hands after these actions: 

• Blowing your nose 

• Handling pet food 

• Handling garbage 

Use Sanitizers 

We understand that you don’t always have immediate access to a sink. That’s why keeping hand sanitizer close by, whether that be in a bag or on your desk, is a smart idea.  

Staying Active 

Exercise can aid in boosting your immune system. When you exercise, immune cells begin moving throughout your body and stay present for up to three hours after. This gives the immune cells extra time to identify unwanted viruses and keeps you from getting sick. The activity doesn’t need to be intense. It can be something as simple as a brisk 30-minute walk. Anything that elevates your heart rate is good.  

These simple habits we’ve discussed can easily be incorporated into your daily life, especially now. Additionally, starting to incorporate these now will help you around the holidays. Nobody wants the flu when they should be getting in the holiday spirit.  

Coverage During Flu Season 

Even by staying active, using hand sanitizer, and eating healthy, you could still unexpectedly come down with something. This not only could potentially require a doctor’s visit and/or medication but unforeseen out-of-pocket expenses too. With a TRICARE Supplemental Insurance Plan, you could pay $0.00 on covered medical expenses. For more information, visit GEA’s website.