Reduce Your Risk of Illness with These Tips
By Paul Rothbart
Being sick is never fun. You can lose time from work which may cost you income, can make you get behind on household chores, and you can't engage in your favorite activities. Plus, you feel lousy. It can be tricky to avoid being sick at least sometimes, especially during cold and flu season. There are people who seem to rarely be ill. Do they just possess superior genes? Perhaps, but there are things you can do that can reduce your risk of getting sick. Here are some tips.
Get Sufficient Sleep
Lack of sleep or poor sleep is very bad for your overall health. It affects your energy levels and makes it hard to concentrate and can diminish cognitive function. It also has a negative effect on your immune system. You are much more susceptible to illness when your immune system is not functioning at its best. Most people need at least 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Don't shortchange yourself. Quality of sleep is also important. Keep your bedroom quiet, dark, cool, and free from electronics. Avoid caffeine the last two hours before sleep and spend some time winding down and relaxing.
Green Leafy Vegetables
Vegetables of the green leafy variety such as spinach, broccoli, and kale are loaded with vitamins and minerals that can boost your immune system. That is the key to not getting sick. A study conducted with mice found that cruciferous vegetables cause the brain to signal the body to produce more cell-surface proteins which boost immune response.
Green Tea
Green tea either hot or iced, is a delicious drink that is loaded with flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that can fight the microbes that cause sickness. The Journal of the American College of Nutrition published a study that people who drank several cups of green tea daily were less prone to become ill. They also had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease.
Get a Flu Shot
Unless you have an allergy to them, getting a flu vaccine each year before the season starts is a good idea. Research shows that flu shots have a good track record in preventing their recipients from getting the flu. You can ask your doctor for advice on which one to get.
It's never fun to get sick. Although the possibility of illness will always be there, by following these tips you can reduce the risk of getting sick. Spend more time doing the things that are important and less time recovering.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cartersville, Ga.