Unfortunately, getting sick could ruin your festive cheer. You’re more likely to get sick as the colder temperatures and wintry weather kicks in.

If you want to keep your holiday spirits up, you need to do everything you can to avoid getting an annoying cold or the dreaded flu.

Check out our winter health tips to help make sure you stay healthy throughout the winter.

1. Eat a Healthy Diet of Fruit and Veggies
Around 90% of Americans don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables. If you want to stay healthy through the winter, you need to improve your diet.

Drop salty snacks and sugary treats for more greens and whole foods. You can even eat typical winter veggies, such as carrots and potatoes, to keep your immune system healthy in the cold weather.

2. Get Outdoors During the Daytime
When it’s cold outdoors, it’s tempting to spend all your time inside, but you need to push yourself to go outdoors.

If you don’t get enough natural sunlight during the winter, it can cause a vitamin D deficiency that can negatively affect your health.

Whenever you have spare time, go for a winter walk in the woods or go ice skating at the lake.

3. Make Sure You Stay Hydrated
We’re always reminded to stay hydrated during the summer, but it’s important to drink plenty of water in the winter too.

When you exercise in cold weather you may wear multiple layers, which could cause you to sweat.

You need to replace this water loss by drinking more. Don’t forget to keep your electrolytes up and stay away from alcohol, coffee, and tea, as these drinks will only dehydrate you more.

4. Try to Get Better Sleep
Around one in three American adults don’t get enough sleep.

During the winter, you may want to hibernate for the whole season, but you should try to stick to your regular sleeping patterns.

You might feel tempted to lay in bed all morning because it’s cold, but this can hurt your sleep pattern.

Just avoid caffeine, exercise, and eating food immediately before you go to bed. This can disrupt your sleep.

5. Always Keep Yourself Warm
If you spend a lot of time outside, you need to protect yourself against hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold-related issues.

If you’re cold, put on a sweater and wrap a blanket around yourself. Keep an eye on the weather and dress appropriately. Buy a warm winter coat if you don’t already have one and keep emergency supplies in your car.