Tips On Staying Healthy This Flu Season
List of foods that should be part of your healthy diet to boost your immune system.
You may have gotten through the holidays flu-free, but you should still be taking precautions to keep yourself healthy. Besides your physical health, keeping yourself healthy financially is important too. Having the flu cost Americans with no paid sick leave nearly $7 billion in lost wages, and somewhere between $250 and $1000 to get treated. We have some suggestions for you to keep healthy this blustery winter.
Besides washing your hands often and getting vaccinated, eating healthy can boost your immunity. Here are foods that boost the immune system that should be part of your healthy diet.
1. Yogurt—Full of probiotics, these healthy germs found in yogurt keep the bad germs at bay.
2. Oats and Barley—Fibers in oats and barley have anti-microbial properties.
3. Garlic—Allicin, found in garlic, fights infection.
4. Shellfish—Shellfish is a great source of selenium, which can clear flu from the virus.
5. Chicken Soup—The soup’s salty broth thins mucus.
6. Tea—Tea is a great source of L-theanine, which fights infection.
7. Beef—The zinc in beef boosts infection-fighting white blood cells.
8. Sweet Potatoes—Eating sweet potatoes boosts skin health, which keeps you healthier overall.
9. Mushrooms—Eating mushrooms boosts the activity and productivity of white blood cells.
10. Citrus—Grapefruits and oranges are full of immune-boosting Vitamin C.
Not sure how to incorporate these super foods into your daily diet? Get inspired by visiting cooking.com and using a Cooking.com coupon from us. Get in the kitchen and cook something up to boost your immunity. Now that you know how to eat healthy, you also need to nix some bad habits in the new year. People who are more likely to get the flu:
1. Skip socializing.— People who are social more are more likely to stay healthy. So socialize!
2. Under-sleep - Lack of sleep impairs immune system function. Get your Zzzs.
3. Have pessimistic attitudes - Pessimists don’t live as long as optimists according to many studies. Keep your glass half full.
4. Bottle up their feelings. Surges of anger do boost white blood cells, but keep your anger in check. Express your feelings.
5. Don’t manage their stress. Chronic stress can diminish the body’s ability to fight disease. Incorporate stress-alleviating activities into your routines.
6. Don’t get enough exercise. Regular exercisers are less likely to take sick days. Use our 24 Hour Fitness deals and save!
7. Hang out with smokers. Exposure to second hand smoke is harmful to your entire body. Smokers themselves have a more severe infection and are more likely to die from the flu. Quit smoking and encourage others around you to quit.
8. Abuse anti-biotics. Be sure to finish your regimen from your doctor, or you’ll leave yourself vulnerable to more infections.
9. Don’t laugh enough. Laughing decreases stress, which helps your overall health.
Count your blessings if you got through the holidays without a major health incident, but also keep up good healthy habits. The new year is a great time to make resolutions that boost your overall health and wellness. We’ll help you keep your finances healthy too when you use our codes from 24 Hour Fitness and cooking.com!
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2. http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/cold_flu_stopping_germs_work?page=2