In light of the ongoing swine flu frenzy, we've gathered these 10 easy tips to help you stay healthy -- no matter what nasty bugs and germs try to keep you down ...
1. Cut down on alcohol consumption
Sorry to break it to you, but your friends who
try to convince you to hit up the bars with the justification that alcohol
kills germs -- and therefore pounding five shots of tequila will miraculously zap
your lingering flu -- are far from being right. To the contrary, drinking alcohol when you're sick not only suppresses the immune system, but it also dehydrates your body and
may very well counteract with whatever meds you've taken. If you're under the weather and dying
for a drink, we suggest you at least boost your electrolytes with a fruit-flavored sports beverage. Or just stick with good ol' H2O.
2. Wash your hands
We feel like a nagging grandma saying this, but washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to avoid getting sick. In fact, a study by the Naval Health Research Center found that washing your hands multiple times a day cut instances of respiratory illnesses by 45 percent. And at Columbia University, researchers who looked for germs on volunteers' hands found that a single hand-washing had very little effect, even when antibacterial soap was used -- so wash twice if you're serious about fending off colds! If you really, really want to go Chuck Norris on those germs, we suggest carrying a travel-size container of hand sanitizer anytime you're out and about.
3. Freshen up with essential oils
Not only are essential oils good for freshening up your home, essences such as lavender, tea-tree and spearmint are great, natural to ward off germs and bacteria. Diffusing these oils in your kitchen, bathroom and bedroom may help prevent you from catching a cold in the first place. The scents can also help to sooth and relax your stuffy head if you have been bitten by the bug.
4. Eat yogurt
It's true: Not all germs are bad for you!
According to studies, eating just a cup of low-fat yogurt daily can reduce
your chances of catching a cold by 25 percent. Researchers have found that the beneficial bacteria in yogurt (both live-culture and pasteurized) stimulates the production of disease-fighting substances in our immune systems. So break
out that yogurt and build up your immunity before flu season
starts! (Sorry, folks: If the yogurt is frozen and says 'Haagen-Dazs' on the package, it doesn't count.)
5. Cover your mouth
Here's a common courtesy we were all taught
as kids: Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Sure, it makes sense to block your sneezes and coughs to avoid hacking on the person
next to you. But unless you wash your hands immediately after doing so, chances
are you're spreading germs exponentially when your sneeze-covered hands come into contact with everything you touch. So unless you're King Midas, we suggest
you carry tissues -- or cough/sneeze into your shirtsleeve.
6. Fill up on phytochemicals
It's basically just a fancy word for fruits and vegetables, but we figure if it sounds important enough you might go ahead and try it. "Phyto" means plants, and the natural chemicals in plants give the vitamins in food a supercharged boost. Don't get us wrong: Vitamin supplements can be great additions to your diet. But there's nothing like eating vegetables and fruits the way nature intended us to eat them. (The dark green, red and yellow ones are especially good for you.) We won't make you sit in the corner if you don't eat your veggies, but if you get sick you'll need the timeout, anyway.
7. Keep your hands away from your face
We know that irritating itch on the tip of your nose is begging to be scratched, but if you don't want to
be coughing up a lung tomorrow, you'll take our advice and keep your hands
off your face (OK, maybe it's not that serious, but you get the idea). Why does this matter? The average person rubs his eyes or nose, or scratches his face, 20-50 times a day. But the eyes -- along with the nose and mouth -- provide the ideal entryway for germs. If you must touch your face, try using your knuckles instead. They can be quite useful for eye-rubbing or alleviating an itch, at least until you get around to washing your hands. And your knuckles are also less likely than your fingertips to be contaminated with viruses.
8. Don't pop antibiotics without your doctor's OK
Colds and flu (along with most
common infections) are caused by viruses, so antibiotics -- designed to kill
bacteria -- won't do a thing to make them go away. Antibiotics can cause damage, however, by killing off the "friendly" bacteria that are part of our immune-system defenses. Additionally, the more we rely on antibiotics, the less effective they become over time. If you've used antibiotics a lot lately, consider a course of probiotics instead. (Think of this as the "replacement troops" for friendly bacteria.)
9. Keep your distance!
Yes, it's hard being away from your Significant Other for more than 24 hours. But if your special someone is coming down with something, give him/her their space. Lots of it. Viruses spread via personal contact and airborne transmission, so your best bet is to keep your distance. Of course the same applies to you: If you're feeling under the weather, stay home. Your boy/girlfriend will miss you, but your co-workers will thank you.
10. Take preventative measures
We'd love to think the above tips will keep the doctor away, but those darn germs can be quite stubborn. If you do end up feeling less than 100 percent, take a few of these steps to karate chop your nasty cold or flu the second it rears its buggy little head.
· Suck on a zinc lozenge until it melts away, then another about every two hours. Most drugstores and groceries carry Zicam products, which include zinc-based lozenges and chewables.
· If you don't have a stomach ache, eat some garlic spread on toast. Many scientists believe that garlic -- consumed fresh or as a supplement -- helps support immune functions and prevent infection.
· Do not drink caffeinated beverages (sodas, coffee, non-herbal teas, etc.) because they increase your chances of dehydration.
· Take a hot shower. The steam helps relieve congestion so that you can rest better.
· Gargle salt water. It will temporarily ease your sore throat pain, and help keep it from getting worse.
· Get plenty of rest. Probably the best thing you can do when battling a bug is to just take it easy, and give your body all the strength it needs to fight back.
· Cook up a pot of chicken soup and eat a bowl of it in bed. Better yet, have someone who loves you cook it for you.
Until next time, stay healthy!
Jennifer Lee & Joyce Liao, Clear365 Bloggers
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