It's a no-brainer that the flu has become very widespread this season, and it seems like everyone around you is at home feeling miserable. Doctors' offices are sending people home, simply not having enough space or resources to treat the abundance of people catching these symptoms. In order to take precautions, here are 10 surprising ways to guarantee you a much slimmer chance of catching the flu:
1. Loads of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a huge immune booster which can be commonly found in fruits like oranges as well as vitamins. This will help strengthen your immune system and make sure it's getting enough support for whatever germs head your way.
2. When someone coughs, breathe out
It is easy to inhale someone's germs nearby, especially when they're coughing. Make sure to breathe out whenever someone near you coughs to keep their germs from entering your mouth.
3. Wash your hands frequently after touching public spaces
Germs can easily be spread on doorknobs, classmates' or colleagues' pens, stairway railings, and other commonly touched things open to the public. Be sure to avoid touching these things as much as you can, and if you do, wash your hands after.
4. Sweat it out
Newer research suggests that working out has an indirect negative correlation with getting the flu. When working out, it helps lower stress levels and also helps blood flow more efficiently through the immune system, making it more likely to detect an illness before it spreads. So get your gear on and head to the gym!
5. Slumber time
You can never get too much sleep. It is essential to having a healthy body and mind. When your body is sleep deprived, it becomes weaker and less efficient at fighting off germs. So at least get your eight hours in and you'll be set!
6. Keep your hands away from your face
It is so easy to casually touch your face and even your mouth or nose, but this is a common way of catching germs that your hands have touched. Getting out of the habit of this will help keep germs away from your nose and mouth and make you less likely to catch something.
7. Keep your lips to yourself
As tempting as it may be to kiss your flu infested boyfriend/girlfriends symptoms away, it won't do any good getting you sick and having them take care of you the next week. So no, it is not worth it, and yes, a little peck does count.
8. Don't stress too hard
Stressing out is another way of weakening your normal body functions and making you more prone to catch the flu, so stressing about getting the flu is definitely counterproductive. Try and sit back, relax, and realize when you're stressing too hard so you can take some deep breaths and calm your body.
9. Daily dose of hot tea
Tea has many beneficial antioxidants to the body and the warm liquid is very soothing and calming to the throat and tonsils. So enjoy a hot cup of tea a day to keep the doctor away.
10. The flu shot
Ladies and Gents, get your flu shot. Even if it doesn't protect against all strands of the flu, it will definitely help target certain germs and eliminate your chances of them getting you sick. So make sure you are healthy and your immune system is up and running, and make a quick trip to CVS!
