We had to cancel homeschool co-op last week because so many people are battling the flu.
Can we stay healthy surrounded by hacking and wheezing?
It’s a lot easier than you think!
Here are the top 9 ways to stay healthy during flu season:
Get plenty of sleep. Add an extra hour or two if you can. You see, when your body is fighting germs–and that’s why our immune system is here for–it works super hard and needs more sleep. Our body is fighting germs all the time and most of the time our immune system wins! If others are sick around you, inside there is a battle going on to stay healthy. Help the war against flu germs by getting plenty of rest.
Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Full of antioxidants and nutrients, these super foods nourish our immune system and give them the stamina and tools to fight germs so we don’t get sick.
Stay dry. Wear snugly water-resistant coats in the winter,especially if it’s raining or snowing. You see germs thrive in warm moist places. You might get wet outside and come into a warm house where now the moisture is warm–perfect for germs to reproduce. If you get wet, change clothes or better yet, shower and change clothes.
Exercise regularly. Exercise speeds up our blood flow to help carry germs away and out of the body for good!
Get out in the fresh air and sunshine. Staying inside means recirculated air which is filled with germs that recirculate with the air. If you can’t get outside, open a window for a few minutes. Sunshine acts like bleach, disinfecting the surfaces it touches–a great way to say goodbye to germs!
Target the most “germy” surfaces in your house and keep them clean. Sinks, counters, toilets, and door handles are covered with germs. Clean these surfaces regularly. I also wipe them down with bleach wipes twice a day if the flu is going around.
Make it a family rule to cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough. Use a tissue or your hand. If you use your hand, though, wash it afterward. Get thick, sturdy soft tissues to keep on hand so that people will use them.
Take it easy if you are feeling under the weather. Just because the germs are winning at first doesn’t mean your immune system can’t come in and save the day. If you are feeling run down, make it a lazy day with movies, popcorn, and lying around covered with blankets. Rest gives your body the chance to do what it does best–FIGHT to keep you healthy!
And the hands-down most important way you can avoid the flu is…tada!
Wash your hands! The number one way to avoid germs is to wash your hands with soap (NOT antibacterial soap). Wash thoroughly–singing the Happy Birthday song all the way through is the right amount of time you should be scrubbing. If you wash quickly, you are just giving the germs a little bath. Scrubbing is what kills them.
The biggest way that people get sick is by touching a germy surface or having a germ land on their hands. When they touch their face, the germ invades the body through the nose or mouth. Clean hands protect you from 90% of germs.
When cold and flu season hits, I increase my handwashing and make sure I scrub them thoroughly.
Stay Healthy!
Warmly,
Meredith Curtis
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