Cold and flu season is just around the corner and I wanted to share my tips that I do to keep my family Cold and Flu-Free this season. When it is cold outside it is easy to want to stay indoors where it is nice and warm, but sometimes that is where the germs are lingering. If I am stuck indoors where the germs are I like to eliminate them. If I am stuck outdoors then the best thing to do is dress for the weather and be prepared for weather changes too. What you don't want to do is get stuck somewhere and not have the proper attire to keep you warm.1. Disinfect things. We use Lysol products, chlorine bleach, ultra-violet light, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, or vinegar to disinfect things in our home. Surface areas, knobs, handles and other most touched surfaces can cause someone to get germs easily from others who have them if touched by them. The best way to get rid of germs is to wipe them away with a disinfectant wipe.
2. Eat Healthy. Eating healthy well balanced meals will help in keeping your body strong. Yogurt has probiotics that are good for inhibiting pathogens and toxin producing bacteria. Camomile tea and/or supplement helps immunity to getting sick. Zinc syrup or lozenges are great for shortening affects of a cold or flu. Drink your orange juice! Vitamin C is great for helping the immune system. Get plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement. The best way to get vitamin D is from the sun and foods that are enriched with it. If you are stuck inside make sure you get your daily dose to maintain a good immune system and promote bone health along with calcium. Get plenty of fluids.
3. Get your sleep. Getting a good amount of sleep helps with keeping your body well rested and your immune system working well. The optimal amount of sleep varies from person to person. There really is no magic number to a perfect amount of sleep, but getting what is needed for your own body is mandatory in keeping healthy, happy and functioning well.
4. Get your exercise. Exercising helps combat health conditions and diseases along with maintaining well being, improving mood, controlling weight and boosting energy.
5. Have good hygiene and brush your teeth/tongue/gums regularly.
6. Cough into your sleeve (the bend of your elbow) or a tissue not your hands. Don't stifle a cough and don't sniff the mucous back into your lungs. Sneezing, blowing your nose, and coughing are a must when trying to expel germs from the body.
7. Let some fresh air in and don't over heat your house. Overheating and not ventilating properly will only make the air in your home stagnant, stale and dry. Lack of humidity causes our nose and tonsils to dry out so they cannot trap germs efficiently. When this happens it becomes difficult to sneeze and cough. Turning down the thermostat and turning on a room humidifier keeps virus-laden mucus flowing out of your body. As gross as it is you need to get it out of your system.
8. Teach children how to keep well. The most important times to clean hands include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, nap-time, play stations) and before meals or snacks. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer regularly. If you are a good example your children will follow. Stress the importance of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Show your children how to cover their mouth and nose for every cough and sneeze. Better to be on the sleeve than in the hand. This simple maneuver has spectacular results in decreasing the spread of viruses and bacteria floating about the room, waiting to be inhaled.
9. Try to stay away from others who are sick and if you get sick try to stay home. Try not to spread germs to others.
DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
1 comment:
Great tips, our kiddo's brush their teeth, but never thought about it has a keeping them Flu-Free.. it makes sense!
thanks for sharing.
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