Are you prepared?
December is the season for luvin’. This is the time when people turn on the caring and giving mode. But it’s not nice to find yourself at the receiving end of a flu or any other illness brought about by the cold season. There are many ways to say "No."
As a child, your mother or grandmother must have advised you to wear a jacket before braving the cold weather outside.
"Bundle up or you’ll catch a cold," they would say. But this is just one of the many loving and thoughtful things our parents told us.
The truth is one cannot catch a cold by going outside in the cold weather without a jacket. Medical science has proven that the only way to catch a cold is by being exposed to respiratory droplets from one of more than 200 viruses that cause colds or influenza (flu).
While you may likely get a cold or flu during the "ber" months, the explanation for this has nothing to do with the weather conditions. The US National Institute of Health gives the reason that "greater time spent indoors increases the opportunity for viruses to spread among people."
Moreover, the lower humidity during the colder months helps cold-causing viruses thrive. This may also "dry the lining of the nasal passages, making them more susceptible to infection," according to www.nih.gov.
Once you’re hit, however, you’re doomed. Like many other things, the only thing that can cure a cold or flu is time. Prevention is always better than cure. So, boosting your immune system is still your best bet!
After stroking any of these objects, viruses make their way to the body when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
To stop the germs from spreading, wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently or use hand sanitizer.
Other people’s hands are also a good source of germs. The act may be loving and there will be much more of such, especially during this winter season. But keep in mind that germs can live for up to a few hours and, in some cases, several weeks.
So the next time you HHWW (hold hands while walking), you know what to do.
This is the time to give our bodies some amount of tough love. Push yourself to go to the gym and work out. And while you’re at it, drink plenty of fluids to flush away the toxins out of your system.
And speaking of drinking, consume alcohol in moderation. Smoking shouldn’t even be discussed.
Now, healthy is not always about vitamins. Though it’s much easier to swallow gobs of Vitamin C pills, experts advise otherwise. It is always better to get nutrients directly from their source by eating four to six servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Now that’s "eating" without having to ruin anybody’s diet. And speaking of diet, go ahead and take a cup of low-fat yogurt daily. According to Web MD (www.webmd.com), "Researchers believe the beneficial bacteria in yogurt may stimulate production of immune system substances that fight disease."
"It’s an annual thing given during the flu season," he added.
Almost everyone older that six months may and should get a flu shot, except for people who are allergic to eggs. Consult your physician about this.
A study from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. proves that people who had sex a couple of times a week had higher levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that helps fight off illness. A study from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ found that orgasms can improve blood circulation throughout the entire body.
With these ways in mind, say "buh-bye" to germs. And "Give (only) love on Christmas day," crooned Michael Jackson. (Now that’s another story.)