How to Avoid Getting Sick This Winter

It is cold and flu season and I am doing everything I can to avoid getting sick. According to medicinenet.com, adults endure an average of seven colds a year. I have tips on how to stay healthy through the winter.

Dress in layers
You want to stay warm outdoors so you put on a lot of warm clothes. Most of your body heat escapes out of the top of your head. To avoid this, wear a hat whenever you are out in the cold. If you dress in layers, when you enter a heated building you can remove some of the layers so you don't over heat. Staying a steady temperature will help your body stay healthy.

Wash your hands (and any other body parts exposed to the elements)
Your hands come in contact with millions of germs a day. It is important to wash your hands frequently. Not only should you wash them often, you need to make sure you are washing them in warm water with a dime-sized drop of soap for 20 seconds (sing the ABC song or Happy Birthday twice). Then make sure to dry your hands well so they don't get cold.

Washing your hands with soap and water is always better than using hand sanitizers. Sanitizers strip the top layer of oil of your skin and remove little of the harmful bacteria. Hand sanitizers can be used when a sink is not available but they are never a substitute for washing your hands.

Exercise and eat properly
Exercising and eating healthfully is important to keep your immune system on track. You should exercise 4 to 6 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes. After you exercise, be sure to get out of your sweaty clothes and shower as soon as possible.

Many websites suggest eating leeks and green onions to fight the common cold. Leeks have many other health benefits so I say it is worth a try. Some websites even suggests rubbing raw onions on your chest. I think a delicious warm soup made with leeks, onions and carrots (for vitamin C) is a great way to avoid a cold.

Drink lots of water
Staying hydrated is proven to boost your immune system and fight off the cold and flu germs.