With the holiday season approaching, the cold weather will be upon us. And with that, it is also that time of year that everyone dreads — flu season! I mean, how do you prepare your body for flu season? Here are some tips on how to prepare your body and stay healthy.
Thoroughly wash your hands often. The most crucial step in preventing the flu and other infections that spread through direct contact is to take this action. If soap and water are available, rinse hands with water and soap for 20 seconds. If not, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends washing up with soap before eating, preparing food or drinking from a cup or glass, smoking cigarettes around others, touching animals, changing diapers of infants or toddlers younger than 2 years old), blowing your nose forcefully into a tissue—in short: just about anything that might make you come into contact with another person’s bodily fluids! The CDC also suggests washing up after coughing into your hands; don't forget to use hot water if possible because it will kill more germs!
If someone else has been sick recently, avoiding close contact with them is best until they are no longer contagious (about five days after recovery). An added precautionary measure during flu season considers wearing gloves when handling raw meat products at home.
Boost your Immune System
There are many ways to boost your immune system to prevent illness. There are many studies to support the use of vitamin D. Many Americans are deficient in Vitamin D and need to supplement to keep their levels optimal. Several other vitamins that are beneficial include Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin A, and Elderberry. If you are unsure what vitamins your body may need, we are happy to help you determine this!
Other ways to boost your immune system include a healthy diet. Eating a diet consisting of whole foods and vegetables, avoiding processed and fast foods sets one up for a life long journey of health and wellness.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Here's the deal: Your hands are your enemy. You touch everything, including your face and mouth, all day long. By touching your face, you're transferring germs from other people's hands and surfaces directly onto yours—which then go inside you when they enter through your nose or mouth. The more frequently you touch things that have been touched by other people's hands (or even their pets), the higher the chance of getting sick.
So what can we do about this?
Wash hands frequently before eating or preparing food—ideally after every bathroom visit, sneeze and cough. If soap is not readily available, use hand sanitizer (it works just as well).
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with dirty fingers! Use tissues when necessary instead of letting those points come into contact with dirty fingers, especially if someone else has already sneezed/coughed on them since it’s impossible to know if there was any contamination until after it happens!
Eat right and stay hydrated.
Eat right. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables while avoiding sugar and alcohol is the best way to keep your immune system strong. If you can't resist sweets, try eating them with a healthy substance like nuts or seeds to help lower the food's glycemic index.
Drink plenty of water. It might seem obvious, but staying hydrated throughout the day helps your body function at its peak performance level—which also means that you'll be less likely to catch viruses when they're around! So drink up while flu season rolls around!
Get plenty of sleep.
Getting plenty of sleep is an essential part of keeping you healthy. Study after study has shown that getting enough sleep can help protect against many illnesses, including the flu.
That being said, it's not always easy to get enough sleep—even if we know it's good for us! Here are some ways you can make sure your body gets the rest it needs:
Set a bedtime and stick to it! If possible, try to go to bed at the same time every night (and wake up at the same time each morning). This will help regulate your circadian rhythm, which controls how much energy you feel throughout the day.
Avoid caffeine after 2 p.m. Caffeine is excellent when we need a boost in the morning but don't want to crash later in the day—but too much caffeine can make falling asleep difficult at night and lead to insomnia or other sleep problems later on. Be sure not
Exercise regularly.
Exercise regularly. It's no secret that exercise is good for you, but did you know it can also help your body fight off infections? Even a 30-minute workout three times a week can increase your immune response to germs and viruses like the flu by 50%.
Exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality and duration, reducing stress levels—another factor in keeping your immune system strong. And when combined with other healthy habits such as eating right, getting enough rest, and staying hydrated during flu season (which we'll get into next), regular exercise can help keep colds at bay!
Flu prevention is not difficult, but it does take consistency.
Flu prevention is not difficult, but it does take consistency. You can't just do it once and expect it to work; you must keep doing it until you're done with flu season.
It’s important to remember that even though we can’t avoid getting sick, we can take steps to keep ourselves healthy. Boost your immune system, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth when you're sick, eat right, and stay hydrated are all good habits that will help you stay well throughout the season.
Under the weather? Are you or your child sick? We can see you in our office, your home or virtually. Maybe the whole family is under the weather? We offer a variety of testing and medications if needed.
