7 Awesome Ways To Prevent Colds And The Flu

Learn some surprising ways to prevent colds and flu. Check out the article we found over at Health mag.

by Aviva Patz

You’ve got to act fast to fight off colds and flu. Case in point: University of Arizona scientists have found that when someone is sick in an office, it takes only four hours (!) for surfaces like coffeepot handles, copy-machine buttons and the fridge door to show traces of infectious virus. Considering that the 2014-2015 flu season was one of the worst on record—it even reached epidemic status—it’s well worth arming yourself against aches, cough, fever and general misery. For reality-tested tips that actually work, we turned to doctors, politicians, makeup artists and other brave souls who are exposed to viruses every day. Steal their strategies to win the war against germs this winter.

Lose the booze

“When I’m on trips, I don’t drink alcohol. It interferes with sleep quality, and I’m much more likely to get sick when I’m sleep-deprived. I’ve also read that nightcaps disrupt REM sleep, which is the most restorative part of sleep.”

Sip tea

“I drink hot black or green tea with lemon and honey. Drinking the tea and breathing in steam stimulates the cilia—the hair follicles in the nose—to move out germs more efficiently. Lemon thins mucus, and honey is antibacterial.”

Get a protein fix

“Research shows that diets that are too low in protein can deplete the immune system. So I make sure to get protein-rich foods throughout the day, especially fish, eggs and yogurt.”

Zinc it

“If I get a scratchy throat and think I might be getting a cold, I pop Cold-Eeze lozenges with zinc for a few days. They relieve symptoms and can get you better faster.”

Start juicing

“As a paramedic, I never know what germs I’ll be encountering. So I drink water constantly to flush toxins out through the lymph system. During cold and flu season, my EMT partner and I start our day by making and drinking juice. We’ll use kale, broccoli, apple, arugula, parsley, cucumber, carrots, Swiss chard, lemon and mint. Since I don’t get my recommended nine servings of whole fruits and vegetables every day (who does?), juicing allows me to drink that amount in concentrated form.”

Embrace oil

“I’ll use a few drops of lavender essential oil as a natural hand sanitizer on the go.”

Protect your paws

“I wash my hands often and pat them fully dry so they don’t get flaky, which can allow germs in. Then I moisturize.”

Next Article: Learn To Fight Colds And The Flu With Baking Soda

Read full article: 20 Surprising Ways to Prevent Colds and Flu