It’s back to school season and with that comes the onslaught of colds and flu. All those kids interacting in a closed environment with other sick kids leads to the coughing, sneezing, sore throat, and stuffy nose symptoms that cause you to seek out medical help. With last year’s swine flu craziness, I know women are looking for added protection this fall. Here are some things you can do to help avoid down days.
1. Wash your hands--often. I know this sounds redundant but it’s important to wash your hands after interactions with other people that could be sick, after pushing a shopping cart, eating at a restaurant, using a bathroom, and any other situation where you could be picking up others germs. Don’t sneeze into your hands but sneeze into your arm or a tissue.
2. Cut out the sugar and dairy – these two foods cause your mucus to thicken. Sugar also impedes your immune system making it more difficult to mount a response and fight the germs.
3. Use a neti-pot daily– this neat little system washes the bacteria and germs out of your nose and sinuses. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, look it up online and watch a video of it.
4. Wipe down your phones and computer – when was the last time you swiped a cleaning cloth over your keyboard or your cell phone? How about your work or home phone?
5. Take your vitamins – consider taking vitamin C, fish oil, and a good quality multi vitamin to ensure your nutrients are at good levels. Also have your vitamin D tested as it’s important for your immune system. You want to make sure your levels are above 50 and supplement with vitamin D3.
Teach your family these five tips to lessen their chances of becoming sick this season. It’s no fun to miss out on the fun with a fever so wash your hands, stay hydrated, and take preventative measures.