5 Ways to Stay Healthy During Flu Season
Making healthy choices can be quite beneficial, especially during the flu season. Many people cannot get away from coughing and sneezing during this season, making it necessary to take stringent measures to protect you from contracting the flu.
Below are five ways to stay healthy during the flu season.
Practice Good Healthy Habits
If you wish to avoid spending time feeling sickly and curled up with a pile of tissues, then you should uphold good healthy habits. Ensure you clean your hands often because your hands are a potential carrier of germs and bacteria. By washing your hands frequently, you can prevent the spread of germs and protect yourself. Wash your hands after touching common surfaces, after caring for the sick, before eating, and after coughing or sneezing. You could opt to use a hand sanitizer when you cannot wash your hands. However, ensure it contains at least 60% alcohol to be effective.
It is advisable to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as you could easily transfer germs to these areas, making you susceptible to contracting flu. Also, avoid making close contact with people that have flu-like symptoms. Flu is very contagious and spreads easily through the air. It’s best to isolate yourself to remain healthy and if you have to be in public spaces, then wear a mask.
Get a Flu Shot
Health experts recommend getting a flu shot before the flu season kicks in. Vaccination is the best defense weapon against flu and flu-related health problems. Flu shots are considered safe, and therefore there is no need to have any worries. Many people do not experience any side effects, whereas some experience mild side effects lasting a couple of days.
Even after getting vaccinated, some people end up getting flu. However, medical experts have established that those who get sick with flu have reduced the severity of symptoms. Anyone older than six months is eligible to get a flu shot. Ensure you get vaccinated annually as flu viruses mutate every season.
Eat Right and Exercise
Eating a balanced diet is critical in maintaining a healthy life. You are encouraged to eat foods rich in vitamin C and E during the flu season because they possess immune-boosting properties. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits like oranges, lemon, guava, papaya, strawberries, and kiwi. Vitamin E can be obtained from eating various nuts and sunflower seeds. Eat more green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, and lettuce. Vegetables are rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene, which improves your body’s immune response. Eating more of these protective foods leaves your body strong enough to fight against potential infections. Limit your consumption of sugary foods as they tend to suppress the immune system.
Finally, keep yourself physically fit by establishing a regular exercise routine. Any form of physical exercise that gets your heart pumping enables your lungs to push out any bacteria in your lungs and reduces the likelihood of falling sick.
Disinfect High-Touch Areas
Germs can survive on hard surfaces for many hours or even a couple of days making such areas an ideal breeding ground. High-touch surfaces you should pay special attention to include light switches, doorknobs, handles, stairs, phones, keyboards, counters, sinks, pens, and gym equipment, among others. Such surfaces are likely to be contaminated, and touching them increases the risk of flu transmission. However, the risk of transmission is slightly lower than other modes of transmission. The most reliable way to avoid getting infected is by disinfecting these surfaces.
Increase Your Probiotic Intake
Taking probiotics is a unique way to protect you from getting flu during the flu season. Viruses and bacteria gain entry into your body through the mouth and nose and make their way into your bloodstream through your gastrointestinal tract. A strong intestinal wall blocks viruses and bacteria from getting into your bloodstream. Taking probiotics can help strengthen your intestinal walls and boost your immune system. Research quality probiotics for women and men that work perfectly to boost immune health, digestive health, and overall health.
Bottom line
Observing the above tips can help if you want to remain healthy during the flu season. In case you experience flu-like symptoms, seek medical attention.
Originally posted 2021-12-13 19:39:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
