Baby, It’s Cold Outside!
Well, maybe not yet, but getting back to school can also mean getting back to germs! Cooped up in classrooms with all our classmates, creates the perfect environment for colds and germs to spread easily from person to person. So, what can we do to protect ourselves?
Wash your hands regularly. You don’t have to become too much of a germ freak, but it is a good habit to clean your hands before and after eating, and once you get home from school. You can carry a hand-sanitizer if you like, but over-using these kinds of products can lead to weakening your immune system. If your body doesn’t fight off a germ or two, it might not be strong enough to fight off the big ones!
Keep your hands away from your face. All day long we touch things that have germs on them, which isn’t so bad UNLESS you then transport the germs to your mouth, ears, eyes or nose. Keeping your hands out of your face can also help stop some forms of acne, which is a plus!
Don’t share your germs. If you want others not to sneeze all over you, why not lead by example? Try to carry tissues to cough or sneeze into when you’re sick or experiencing allergies. If you don’t happen to have any on hand, it is now recommended to sneeze into the crook of your arm (inside of your elbow) to block the ‘spray’, and to avoid covering your own hands with the germs.
Eat right. Eating fresh, healthy, nourishing foods can help your body to fight off most germs. The vitamins and minerals help your body to function at its best. Without them, germs can find that chink in your armor and infect you.
Get enough sleep. Just as important as eating right is being well rested. Your body can recover from almost anything with enough rest. Being tired makes you more likely to be vulnerable to a germ attack.
Dress warmly enough. Sure, parkas and wool socks aren’t necessarily the cutest clothes on the planet, but a red and drippy nose is much un-cuter! Getting overly chilled puts your body in survival mode, and all your resources go towards getting the body warm again, leaving the gates wide open for germs.
Get plenty of exercise. A healthy strong body is the best defense against little teeny germs! When you’re in good shape, every system in your body is working at top efficiency, and that includes your immune system.
Vitamins and such. There are all sorts of home remedies for colds out there in the world: vitamin C, Echinacea, elderberry syrup, etc. Most doctors agree that upping your vitamin C intake can help prevent colds from setting in, and lessen the severity of their symptoms. Always check with your parents or doctors before trying anything like this out, but anything from drinking an extra glass of orange juice to taking a chewable vitamin C tablet each morning could help boost your immune system… and anyway, it probably can’t hurt!
