Don’t Let The Flu Get You Down!

Oh, the dreaded flu! We’ve all had it, no one likes it, yet for some reason it keeps coming back! There’s no cure for the flu, unless you want to lock yourself up in your house, with no physical contact with others for the entire winter season. And, while that may be tempting, it obviously could lead to serious doubts about your sanity! Modern medicine has tried to offer some relief, but the most you can hope for with any medications available on the market is maybe a day or two with milder symptoms.

Annual flu shots have started to become more popular, and are being recommended more and more. But, these aren’t without their risks either. There have been shortages and even “bad batches” of vaccines put out in the past few years, so getting a flu shot may not be your best option. How can you avoid having the flu without needing to hole yourself up inside for the winter?

Follow the tips and plans below, and you’ll be living the high life this winter!

Keep Your Immune System In Top Shape

The biggest defense against the flu is having a healthy immune system. Don’t let your body get worn down. Your immune system is your last line of defense against all diseases, including the flu, and you need to do whatever you can to keep it at peak performance!

• Give your body a healthy, well-balanced diet – Vitamins and minerals are so important to maintaining a healthy immune system. You can’t rely solely on getting them through supplements. Your body needs the vitamins and minerals that are offered from food sources, like fruits and vegetables. Not only do these give you great nutritional value, but most of them are full of antioxidants as well.
• Give your body the rest it needs – If you’re getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night, you’ll have a much stronger immune system, ready to fight any threats that come your way. While it’s hard to actually get that kind of rest, you need to do whatever you can to ensure that your body feels rested.
• Give your body plenty of exercise – Keep those disease-fighting cells pumping through your body! Give them the upper hand, so that they can find and attack any flu or other germs that are working their way into your system. Getting enough exercise will also improve your overall health, and help you to sleep better, which will all work together to keep you healthy.

Fight Off Any Germs That Are Trying To Get Past Your Defenses

While having a healthy immune system will go a long way towards keeping you from getting sick, you need to do whatever you can to keep those germs away from you in the first place! Here are some measures you can take to help your immune system take up the battle:

• Wash your hands! We are always telling the kids to “Wash your hands,” but do we do the same? Make sure you always wash your hands before eating, after going to the bathroom and when cooking. If you’re around others who are sick, you need to be diligent, and keep those hands clean! You don’t need to use any kind of antibacterial soap. It doesn’t work any better than good old scrubbing with regular soap and water for at least 15 seconds.
• Keep all surfaces clean – This includes more than just tables and countertops. Clean toys, phones, computer keyboards – anything that is contact with hands or mouths, which could be covered in germs. Wash well with soap and water regularly to keep germs away.
• Avoid be around sick people, whenever possible! Yes, this is virtually impossible, unless you’re planning to resort to the idea that was mentioned at the beginning, and stay locked behind closed doors. But, you can do your best to stay away from close contact with them, and keep your hands washed and free of any germs they are passing on to you.

You can have a healthy, “flu free” winter, provided you take all the steps you can to keep your body in top shape, and don’t let those germs get through! Getting the flu shot isn’t the only way to avoid getting the flu. And, it’s nice to know that hibernating until the spring isn’t necessary either!