1. The number one way to get the cold or the flu is through direct contact. If you know someone who is sick, it is advisable to avoid direct contact with them, such as touching or kissing them.
2. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw it away right away. If you don’t have a tissue handy, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow and whatever you do, don’t sneeze or cough into your hands. Germs stick to your hands like a magnet.
3. Wash your hands frequently and regularly for at least 15 seconds with mild soap and water. Do not touch your mucous membranes, such as your eyes, nose, and mouth, after touching people or objects that many other people have contact with. According to the CDC, washing your hands is the best way to prevent illness and the spread of disease.
4. Avoid stress as much as possible because it wears out our body and negatively affects our immune system. When our immune system weakens, our body opens up to be attacked by germs, viruses, and disease. Try getting a massage to help reduce your stress, listen to music, try meditation and deep breathing, yoga, or have fun with some friends. Laughter is a wonderful way to reduce stress.
5. Exercise regularly because this helps to release endorphins in our body that naturally help our immune system to stay strong and healthy.
6. Get enough sleep and rest. Sleep is also an important factor in having a strong and healthy immune system. According to experts, an average person requires 7 to 9 hours of sleep. To help you get enough sleep, try to have a regular routine of going to bed and sleeping at around the same time each day. Avoid caffeinated drinks, unhealthy snacks, and spicy foods close to bedtime – in fact, avoid unhealthy, processed foods at any time or meal. Stay away from electronic devices at least an hour before bed and that also means your smartphones or checking your email. It will be there tomorrow.
7. Drink at least 8 glasses of water and fluids every day. you need to flush toxins out of your body and water is great for cleansing your entire body. Organic fruit juices are a good option to provide your body with additional vitamins and minerals. Try some peppermint water with peppermint tea. It works wonders to clear congestion and helps you breathe. Try taking some peppermint essential oil and applying it to your temples or under your nose.
8. Make sure you eat a healthy and balanced diet, free from processed, sugary, fatty, high-calorie or junk food. Eat plenty of lean proteins and organic or locally grown fruits and vegetables to ensure you get the proper nutrition for a strong and healthy immune system. Make sure to eat plenty of citrus fruits that are high in vitamin C.
Try the homemade bone broth. Packed with so many essential vitamins and minerals, it’s one of the healthiest foods you can eat.
Eat fish high in Omega-3s and lots of green leafy vegetables. Garlic and onions are known to fight bacteria and viruses that can help prevent the common cold and flu. They also make many foods taste wonderfully delicious, so add as much garlic and onion as you can.
Studies have shown that eating real or homemade organic yogurt with live probiotics can reduce your susceptibility to colds by 25 percent. Beneficial bacteria can help the immune system fight disease.
9. Make sure you get plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Taking supplements of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E can be very helpful and let’s not forget about that powerful mineral zinc. It is very important to keep colds and flu at bay because it is very good at fighting infections. If you get sick, it can shorten the duration of your illness, and because it helps destroy the virus in the back of your throat, your recovery time is shortened considerably.
With these 9 more tips, you can stop the cold and flu and keep yourself and your family healthy with a healthy lifestyle and get through cold and flu season without worrying or feeling miserable.
