November is a good month as any to prioritize your health, but with the cold and holiday season getting ready to ramp up, it’s important to fortify yourself against attacks that your body may face from bacterial and viral invaders. Your health should come first, and with an interest and some know-how, you can improve your health starting this November. Check out these helpful November health tips to get started.

AFC Urgent Care Hillsdale is here to help with any urgent medical need. Our providers can also help you with health resources and recommendations to improve your general health. 

Eat Healthy and Be Active

You have a busy lifestyle, but that shouldn’t stop you from eating healthy and staying active. Maybe you just haven’t had any interest in improving your health, but doing so could do you a world of good.

Healthy Eating:

• When it comes to healthy eating, you have to find the right balance and stay within moderation. With the holiday season approaching, parties and family gatherings will have all sorts of foods to tempt you to overeat and avoid the greens. You don’t have to rob yourself of enjoying your holiday meals, but try and make healthy choices where possible, like adding leafy greens and fruits to your plate while avoiding sugary treats along with fatty and salty foods.

Be Active

• It’s easy to pack on the pounds during the holiday season, and with the cold weather, many people are not motivated to get active. If you are worried about putting on weight, incorporate certain physical activities into your daily routine. Staying active doesn’t mean that you have to exercise intensely. Think about the physical activities you like, such as walking, jogging, dancing, or swimming. Take a 20-minute stroll after dinner four days out of the week, or find a YouTube dance exercise channel that appeals to you. If you like company for motivation, enlist a friend or friend to walk or jog with you. You want to start moving more this November.

Food Safety

Foodborne illnesses are unpleasant, and you should take all the necessary precautions to protect your and your family’s health this November. Your health is impacted, in part, by the foods you consume, and if a germ of any kind contaminates your food, you can become ill. E. Coli and Salmonella are two of the most common bacterium that causes foodborne illnesses. Approximately 1 in 6 Americans get sick annually from eating contaminated food. Some helpful measures that you can take include:

• Washing your hands before, during, and after preparing food
• Wash hands with soap and water before eating and drinking, after coughing or sneezing, handling animals, or after using the bathroom. Store and prepare poultry, raw meat, seafood, and eggs separate from other foods in your refrigerator.
• Cook food at the correct internal temperature to eliminate harmful germs. To be sure, use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature.
• Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours of buying or cooking
• Avoid drinking or eating raw or unpasteurized milk and milk products
• Ensure to thaw your turkey at a safe temperature and not on the kitchen counter in your refrigerator; or in a sink of cold water that should be changed every 30 minutes; or in the microwave.
• Do not consume raw dough or batter (the same goes for kids) because they could contain harmful germs like E.Coli and Salmonella.
• Keep the temperature in your fridge at or below 40°F and the freezer at or below 0°F to keep bacteria at bay.

Get the Flu Vaccine

More commonly called the flu, Influenza should not be taken lightly because it can cause serious illness and health complications, like worsening health conditions or hospitalization. In the most extreme case, the flu can lead to death. It’s critical to get your annual flu shot to protect yourself and others around you from the risk of contracting the flu. November is not too late to get the flu shot since flu activity peaks between December and February and can extend into May. The CDC recommends that persons six months of age and older get the flu shot for this season if not yet vaccinated.

November is a great time to focus on your health, from what you consume to getting vaccinated. With the cold season ramping up, you want to ensure that you prioritize your health to stay safe.