No one likes to be sick.
The good news…it’s easier than you might think to stop the spread of nasty viruses like the flu and ensure you stay healthy this year.
At Carolinas Natural Health Center, we are all about prevention. So, today we thought we’d share some practical things you can do to keep yourself healthy this year, as well as provide 5 ways you can do your part to help stop the spread of such illnesses.
Let’s get started…
Tip #1 to Stay Healthy – Wash Your Hands
Washing your hands might seem like a fairly common-sense method for stopping the spread of viruses. Yet sadly, people neglect to wash their hands all the time.
This season, don’t get lazy…wash your hands!
Every time you use the bathroom, come home from a public place, prepare a meal, blow your nose, etc., scrub your hands with a quality hand soap and hot water.
If you’re going to visit a loved one or someone’s new baby, wash your hands before you leave your home and/or before you come in contact with the person you are visiting.
Tip #2 to Stay Healthy – Reduce Your Sugar Intake
Eating too much sugar can cause inflammation in your gut.
That inflammation then weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to contracting an illness.
Therefore, one of the best ways to protect your immune system and keep yourself healthy is to reduce your sugar intake.
Tip #3 to Stay Healthy – Build Up Your Immune System
Your immune system is what protects you from contracting illnesses.
Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent yourself from getting sick is to take good care of your immune system.
Immune health begins in the gut. For this reason, it’s important to take care of your gut by eating healthy, whole foods and perhaps even incorporating a probiotic into your daily routine.
Exercise and stress management can also help you maintain a healthy gut.
For more ideas on how to keep your immune system strong, check out my post on supporting a healthy gut here.
Tip #4 to Stay Healthy – Keep Your Home Clean
The flu virus can live on many surfaces including…
- Toilets.
- Sponges.
- Counters.
- Sinks.
- Cutting boards.
For this reason, it’s important to keep up with your at-home cleaning routine to prevent the spread of this virus.
A weekly scrubdown of your bathroom and ensuring all your dishes and counters get washed properly with soap are great ways to help keep your home germ-free while also ensuring you and your family stay healthy and safe.
Tip #5 to Stay Healthy – Increase Your Vitamin D Intake
Vitamin D supports immune health.
If you have low vitamin D levels, your ability to fight off illnesses isn’t as strong as someone with normal, healthy vitamin D levels.
In order to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D, DO NOT purchase vitamins. Vitamins actually do more harm to your health than good.
Instead, add into your diet vitamin D rich foods such as…
- Salmon.
- Eggs.
- Mushrooms.
- Liver.
- Yogurt.
Putting preventive measures in place is the key to ensuring optimal health, no matter how old or young you are. Interested in learning more about how you can protect yourself and your family from other assorted illnesses and injuries? We invite you to get in touch with our office to schedule an appointment.
