Warm weather is finally here and with limited sunny days to enjoy, catching a summer cold is the last thing you want to deal with.

Unfortunately, like winter colds, they can set us back and are a pain to deal with. At the end of the day, a preventative approach of minding your diet and lifestyle choices is the best way to make sure you don’t miss out on any enjoyable summer weekends.

Reduce stress
Unchecked stress can have a negative impact on our immune health, making anyone more susceptible to catching a cold. Find time each day to bring balance back to your mind and body through activities that help calm the nervous system. For example, studies have shown that fresh air and time in nature can do wonders for our health and can help to lower stress.

Catch high-quality Zzzs
Lack of good sleep also predisposes our bodies to the common cold. Sleep plays an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system. Create a solid sleep routine and prioritize getting deep and restorative rest to keep your immune system balanced through the summer and all year-round.

Include a variety of whole foods in your diet
Whole foods are those that have not been processed, refined or had extra ingredients added to them, and they help to keep us healthy. These foods include fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, meat, fish and eggs. There are so many delicious fruits and vegetables in season during the summer, so be sure to take advantage of them and fill your daily diet with variety.

Consider a supplement like zinc for immune health
This mighty trace mineral plays a crucial role in the body’s immune and detoxification processes. It is involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body.

“Zinc is essential in the sense that your body doesn’t produce or store it, so daily zinc intake is important,” says Jenna Mangan, a certified nutritional practitioner with CanPrev. “Apart from its role in immune health, zinc also does a lot of big jobs for one unassuming mineral like helping maintain healthy blood sugar levels, keeping your thyroid functioning as it should, and supporting wound healing, growth, taste, and vision.”

Find more tips at canprev.ca.