Best ways to avoid getting a cold and the flu

Wondering how you can avoid getting a cold and/or the flu this cold season?Well, here are some tried and true techniques to help you avoid getting either a cold or the flu, both of which can end up turning the next several weeks pretty miserable for you.

One of the best ways to avoid getting the flu is by getting a flu vaccination.These flu shots are available throughout the United States, at doctor's offices, community health centers, and special clinics set up to immunize people against the flu.Because there are often problems with supplies, flu shots are first given to those who are in the most danger from the flu: infants and the elderly.However, flu shots are available for everybody.The flu shot will be more effective the earlier you get it in the flu season, but it will still help no matter when you get your flu shot.

Here are several more tips that will help you avoid getting either a cold or the flu this winter.

How to avoid getting a cold and/or the flu

1.Make sure that you get enough sleep

It is absolutely vital that you get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.It is imperative for your body and for your immune system that you get that much sleep each night so that your body can be constantly reinvigorating its immune system.Your body heals during the night and gears up for the next day; if your body is too tired, then it won't be able to fight off either the cold virus or the flu virus.

2.Make sure that you exercise regularly

Regular exercise will help you maintain a strong immune system.Scientific studies have shown that mice that participate in regular exercise have much lower death levels from the virus that causes the flu than mice who do not exercise.Exercise is vital for your immune system.

3.Try to avoid sugar

Even smaller amounts of processed and refined sugar will impair the ability of your immune system to fight off different viruses, particularly those that cause the flu or cause the common cold.So try to avoid refined sugar, particularly during the flu season or if you aren't feeling very well.

4.Drink a lot of water

Your mucous membranes are one of the key barriers that your body has to fight off viruses.But if your mucous membranes are dried out, then they won't be able to fight off viruses and protect your body from invasion.So it's important that you drink a lot of clear water and other clear fluids so that you can keep those mucous membranes healthy and hydrated.Try to drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water every day.

5.Reduce the overall stress in your life

It is important that you cut down on your stress, because your overall stress levels have a negative impact on your health overall.Too much stress will make you more susceptible to getting the flu or getting a cold.Try stress reduction techniques, such as meditation or yoga.

6.Make sure that you wash your hands!

It is vital that you wash your hands often so that you can kill the germs that you are picking up on all of the surfaces around you.It's a good idea to carry around a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you so that you can sanitize your hands when you are in large public places.

7.Eat right

There are a number of foods out there that can help boost your immune system.These include fresh fruits and vegetables of all sorts, garlic, green tea, and cayenne pepper.