Eight Strategies to Avoid the Flu
It is that time of year when the Flu is flourishing in the
workplace, classrooms, hospitals, and homes. The influenza virus
differs from the common cold in the sudden onset of symptoms.
These are severe headaches, fever, chills, muscle aches and
sometimes, nausea and diarrhea. The following are some
strategies to stay healthier, this flu season.
Get the flu shot. There are three types of flu. However, the
type A virus is constantly changing which tricks the body into
believing that it is fighting a new virus. The flu shot is the
best line of defense in fighting the flu which is most prevalent.
Stay home when ill. Even though the common mode of thought is to
drag our bodies to work when we are sick, it is not necessarily
the best mode of thought. Studies have shown that sick and ill
workers actually reduce productivity which costs the company
money, not to mention the inconvenience to other workers who are
infected. Use your sick time.
Wash your hands frequently. The key to removing germs, which
could spread infection, is soap, water and friction. Wash your
hands briskly and frequently. Keep a hand sanitizer on your
person or near you, when a restroom is not readily available.
Eat yogurt or take a supplement containing probiotics.
Probiotics are nature's friendly germs. A large percentage of
immune cells, that ward off disease, live in our digestive
tract. Keeping a larger percentage of probiotics or beneficial
bacteria to harmful bacteria in our intestines helps to ward off
colds and flu.
Hydrate your environment, inside and out. Keep a few bowls of
warm water around your house to increase moisture inside your
house. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. A lack of
adequate hydration lowers the immune system making you
susceptible to colds and flu. Drink tap, purified or spring
water. Distilled water contains no minerals.
Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. Colorful berries provide
a natural mix of antioxidants. Orange vegetables are a great
source of beta-carotene. Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C.
Thinking in terms of a rainbow of color, of different fruits and
vegetables, will ensure that you get the vitamins necessary for
good health.
Make sure to get adequate sleep. The average American subsists
on two hours less sleep, a night, than our ancestors. Studies
suggest that most of us require a little more than eight hours
of sleep a night. Lack of adequate sleep causes our bodies to
produce fewer antibodies, resulting in a lower immune system.
Adequate sleep is crucial to good health.
Have a regular exercise regimen. Moderate exercise, thirty to
sixty minutes, three times a week helps boost immunity. An
exhaustive workout can suppress the immune system for the short
term. Find an exercise regimen that works for you.
All of these strategies will help you to live a healthier life,
as well as provide protection against the flu. Try and make
these strategies a part of your everyday life and you should be
rewarded with less colds and flu when the flu season hits.