Coming into winter solstice in the Southern hemisphere, it’s the coldest time of the year.
Temperatures around Australia have been unforgiving, with some areas experiencing unusual extremes, such as snow in regions that don’t usually receive snow fall.
Here is a checklist to help you reduce the chances of falling ill during the winter months.

1. Vitamin D
Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is critical for several immune system functions. Due to shorter days, more clothing and spending more time indoors away from the cold, as expected, people receive a lot less vitamin D during the winter months. 5-10 minutes 3 times a week is the ideal amount of sunlight to receive on exposed skin without sunscreen.
If you can’t find an opportunity to stay warm and get vitamin D from the sun (through a northern facing window for example), consider adding foods such as beef liver, cheese, egg yolks and fatty fish. For vegans, consider adding more mushrooms to your meals.
There are also vitamin D supplements available as a final option.

2. Increase the volume of colour unprocessed foods to your diet.
Increasing your intake of colourful plants into your diet increases your intake of antioxidants, like Vitamins C and A. When the immune system is actively fighting a threat, it can use more Vitamin C than usual. As well as using supplements such as doTERRA’s Lifelong Vitality Pack, increasing your intake of colourful natural foods will increase your bodies tolerance to seasonal threats.

3. Use doTERRA OnGuard in your daily routine
doTERRA OnGuard sanitiser spray can be used on everything from hands, to surfaces such as door knobs, shopping trolley handles, children’s toys, keyboards, or it can be sprayed in the air if your sharing a space with someone who may be infectious. There is also a laundry detergent ideal for tea towels, bath towels children’s clothing and more.

4. Wash Hands often
Try the OnGuard hand wash, put one near each sink in your home, frequent hand washing is a proven way to reduce the transference of environmental threats.

5. Get enough sleep
Insufficient sleep is an immune suppressant. Most individuals require between 7-8 hours. To ensure that you receive enough sleep, consider reducing your caffeine intake, avoiding screen time for the few hours before bedtime or try doTERRA Lavender Peace, which can promote relaxation and assist with sleeping.

6. Exercise more
Increasing exercise has numerous benefits, including boosting one’s immune system. Consider leaving the car at home when work or the shops are in walking distance, join a gym or join in when your children play.

REFERENCES:
https://www.doterra.com/US/en/brochures-magazines-doterra-living-fall-2014-the-sunshine-vitamin
https://view.joomag.com/living-magazine-doterra-winter-2016/0865505001481754145?short