My Top 5 Ways to Avoid Illness

So often we are surrounded by people, and let's face it, people have germs. It can be especially stressful being around large groups of people during cold and flu season, but there are 5 simple steps that you can take every day to prevent yourself from getting sick. Now, these are not a guarantee, but I've found that they really help me stay healthy.

1) Wash your hands often! This seems really simple and silly, but it's very effective. You should not touch your face, especially eyes, nose and mouth while out and about. We should especially wash our hands before we sit down for a meal. Our skin is our first stage of defense against germs, so, many germs sit on the surface of our skin. If skin is doing its job and keeping germs out, why should we invite them in by ingesting them ourselves?

2) Eat as many anti-oxidant rich foods as possible. Acai berry, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, and pomegranates are some of my favorite. Your body will absorb the nutrients better from food than they will through supplements, plus, these fruits are delicious!

3) Drink 4-8 glasses of water every day. The water will help flush out toxins in your body and keep you hydrated.

4) Get lots of rest and meditation! Stress brings your immune system down, and makes you more susceptible to illness. If you are getting adequate rest and are keeping a positive outlook, you are less likely to get sick. While we're stressed and tired, it's easier for us to focus on how unhealthy and imbalanced we feel, and we will be more open to illness. If you push those thoughts aside and focus on how good and rested you feel, you're less likely to get terribly sick.

5) Use a Neti-Pot before you go to bed. No, it isn't a glamorous sight, but neti-pots are incredible devices to help prevent and get over illnesses - especially sinus trouble. The neti-pot flushes your sinuses and nose with a clean, saline solution to kill germs and clear up mucus. It isn't scary, and it doesn't hurt. Sometimes I use it if I've been surrounded by people, or dust & pollution just to clean out my nose. If you won't use a neti-pot, you should at least be trying to breathe through your nose while you are out. There are more filters in your nose to trap foreign substances and toxins than your mouth has, and by all means, let yourself sneeze them out!