Written By Finnegan Pierson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts
Although most people will experience colds or the flu every once in a while, there are steps that you can take to reduce your likelihood of contracting illnesses. Here are five tips for preventing yourself from getting sick.
1. Eat a Nutritious Diet
The food you put into your body turns into the fuel that powers your organs, such as your immune system. Therefore, it's essential that you eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, protein, fiber and whole grains.
While this doesn't mean that you can't treat yourself to sweets every once in a while, make sure it's in moderation. Stay away from eating too many saturated fats, fried foods or refined sugars, as these can promote inflammation and reduce your immune system's ability to fight off infection.
2. Take Supplements
Although eating a well-balanced diet can provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals, this sometimes isn't enough to get the recommended dose of each and every nutrient. This is where supplements come in.
They're a quick and easy way to get some extra vitamins into your daily regimen, and there are hundreds of different options to choose from that you can tailor to your specific health needs.
Common immunity-boosting supplements include:
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Iron
- Folic acid
- Selenium
You can also add a green superfood powder to a glass of water or juice of your choice. Not only can this strengthen your immune system by fighting off free radicals that wreak havoc on your body, but it can also improve digestion, boost energy levels and decrease bloating.
3. Wash Your Hands
Although it may sound obvious, many people don't wash their hands nearly enough. Even if your hands don't feel or look dirty, you should still be washing them frequently with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. Be sure to wash your hands:
- After using the bathroom
- After sneezing or blowing your nose
- Before eating
- Before touching your eyes, nose or mouth
If soap and water aren't accessible, you can substitute with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that consists of at least 60 percent alcohol.
4. Avoid Touching Your Face
On a similar note, avoiding touching your face is another effective measure against getting sick. Did you know that the average person touches their face 16 times an hour? Considering this statistic, it makes sense why so many people contract illnesses like colds or the flu.
Touching your eyes, nose or mouth transfers germs into your throat and lungs, which then gives them the opportunity to replicate inside your body and make you feel sick. If you're having trouble breaking this habit, try keeping your hands busy or lacing your fingers together and placing them in your lap.
You can also use a scented soap or hand sanitizer as a reminder to keep your hands away from your face. The smell will warn you that you're about to touch your face, which can make it easier to stop yourself.
5. Exercise Regularly
Exercising is one of the most effective ways to boost your immune system. Whether you're engaging in low-intensity exercise like yoga or vigorous exercise like sprinting, you'll reap the benefits if you practice it regularly.
Research has shown that exercising causes white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting disease, to circulate more rapidly. This allows them to detect illnesses earlier on and therefore fight them off more effectively.
In addition to boosting immunity, exercising has also been shown to reduce your risk of heart disease, improve mental health and aid in weight loss.
If you're finding it difficult to motivate yourself to exercise, try recruiting a friend or family member to join you. Not only can they make the experience more enjoyable, but they can also hold you accountable for sticking to your daily routine.
Although illness can't always be prevented, there are plenty of steps you can take to lower your chances of getting sick. Following these five tips can help you strengthen your immune system to protect against illness.
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Written By:
Finnegan Pierson loves business and has a passion for Health and technology. Even more interesting is the combination of the two. As a freelance writer, Finn hopes to influence others so they can have positive life experiences.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.