Exercise for winter health

Regular exercise or meditation appears to be a good strategy for reducing respiratory infections such as colds and flu. Researchers drew that conclusion after studying a group of older adults during a full winter season in Wisconsin. The study found that participants who started a daily exercise routine had fewer respiratory infections and missed fewer days of work. Mindfulness meditation which focuses on paying attention to your body and emotions also led to protection against illness.

There was a 40 to 50 percent reduction in respiratory infections when people were given a flu vaccine, which is one of the most well proven and beneficial interventions that we have. It only protects at a level of 50 to 60 percent and only for few strains of the flu virus. 

Participants in the study were split into three groups a third did not change their habits a third took part in an eight week program of moderate exercise such as running on a treadmill or biking for 45 minutes a day, and a third practiced mindfulness meditation which included yoga, stretching and walking.