Guest Author - Carolyn Chambers Clark, RN, EdD
What you can do to ward off the flu
*Wash your hands after you touch people or objects. Soap up well, use friction by rubbing your hands together and rinse in hot water. End with hand lotion so you don't dry out your skin.
*Refrain from shaking hands with strangers by saying, "I'm keeping you and me safe from the flu."
*If you're somewhere where you can't wash your hands, use alcohol-based liquid. Experts say 80 percent of germs are spread by the hands, and just a dime-sized amount of the sanitizers has been proven to kill the most common ones. Keep a bottle of sanitizer handy in your briefcase or desk drawer, and use it at least twice a day.
*Some experts say, pop some vitamin E. A study by Tufts University researchers showed a 20 percent decrease in upper-respiratory infections like the flu in the elderly who used 200 mg of vitamin E each day.
"It improves the ability of our immune cells to function and to fight against pathogens," said Dr. Simin Meydani, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrition Center and Tufts University. So does taking astragalus (a herb) and vitamin C.
*Wipe down shared surfaces like computers and phones.
Despite some debate over the effectiveness of disinfectant wipes in attacking viruses, experts agree that the wipes will kill at least some of germs that can make you sick -- especially in the workplace.
*Do at least some holiday shopping online. While you may have to go to the mall to visit Santa or see items firsthand, avoid big crowds. This is key to stopping the spread of the flu, which is highly contagious.
"You might consider wearing a mask, limiting the amount of time that you spend milling about, get your business done and then go home," said Dr. Stephen Zinner, of Mount Auburn Hospital, in Cambridge, Mass.
*If you do get the flu, don't go spreading it to family members or others. Stay home from work or school, use separate plates and boil them or use paper plates. Cover your mouth instead of coughing into the air. Use a separate bathroom if you can. Don't touch the refrigerator door or foods others will eat, ask for assistance touching anything. Bag your tissues in a plastic bag and don't leave your drinking glasses or tissues sitting around.
*Eat healthy foods and stay away from smoking, smoky places, alcohol, fried foods, junk foods, colas, etc. Eat more fresh or frozen organic fruits and vegetables. They have natural antibiotics in them to keep you well. For more information on healthy vegetables click on
Healing Vegetables
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