KEEP SEASONAL FLU AT BAY WITH THESE HEALTH HACKS

It’s almost 10 days pasT in January and cold and flu virus infections have begun to increase in number. It is that time of year when a lot of people start to get sick and pass around their cold and flu germs.

Cold and the flu are viral infections. They both affect your respiratory system. This includes your throat, nose, airway and lungs. It is difficult to tell the two apart. The flu is generally worse than a cold. More than 200 different viruses can cause colds. Not as many viruses cause the flu. That’s why there’s a vaccine available for the flu and not for colds.

Symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Tiredness

There are many ways one can work to prevent catching a virus during the cold and flu season. Also, staying healthy requires developing simple good habits, which is nothing new. So, here are the keys to preventative care for the coming cold season.

• Eat a nutrient-rich diet: A diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein helps provide immune boosters that prevent illness. Other advice includes avoiding sugar, dairy intake to reduce inflammation, as well as fatty foods.
• Stay hydrated: Increasing the water intake will help one stay healthy and lessen the chance of coming down with the flu. When you are feeling under the weather, drinking extra fluids prevents dehydration caused by fever, loosens mucus, and keeps the throat moist. Warm liquids are preferable that may reduce the spread of viruses in the upper respiratory tract.
• Eat elderberry, olive leaf, ginger, rosemary, garlic –Include these herbs in teas, foods, and other drinks since they are both anti-inflammatory and viral inhibiting which helps in keeping the cold and flu at bay.
• Drink tea with lemon and honey: Ditch the milk, sugar and add honey and lemon to that cup of tea instead. The steam from the tea stimulates the tiny hair follicles in the nose to flush out germs. Honey which is antibacterial and lemons that are high in vitamin C and help thin mucus.
• Include yogurt in the diet every day: The healthy gut bacteria that yogurt and other probiotic foods (like kefir and kimchi help rev up the immune system against respiratory disease.
• Wash your hands frequently: Flu viruses are spread by droplets from infected people when they sneeze, blow their nose, or wipe away secretions from their nose or eyes. During this cold and flu season, everyone should be encouraged to keep their hands out of their mouths, avoid rubbing their eyes, and wash their hands thoroughly several times a day, especially before meals.
• Develop healthy ways to handle stress: Stress hormones impact the immune response. Cope with stress by practicing yoga, listening to music, taking walks, frequent laughter and massage, which improves the immune system.
• Work out regularly: Get those sweats on and exercise. Regularly exercise 20 to 30 minutes a day most days of the week enhances immune function, by increasing white-blood cell activity that attacks viruses which helps the body fight off any cold or flu germs.

Over to you

To conclude, always eat well, sleep well, avoid stress as much as possible and get plenty of exercise. So, the healthier you are in the first place, the less likely you are to catch winter colds and flu, or if you do catch them, you’ll be able to recover quicker.