One Snarky Chica with Issues

If there is one thing that I try to avoid it is getting sick. Not only do I hate feeling crappy, but I hate losing productivity and having to put foreign things into my body to make me feel better. I am the person that will suffer instead of taking medicine. Of course, sometimes you have to take the medication - like if you get strep throat because in some cases it can turn into scarlet fever. Bah, you say, that is an ancient disease. You would think so, right? Well, I have had it 3 times and I’m only 29 years old. I first got it when I was around 8 years old. And my most recent bout with it was about 5 years ago. I know, I’m such a freak.

While there is no fail safe way to make sure we don’t get the flu or colds, there are some things that we can do for preventative measures.

Fill up on liquids.

It is no secret that you can get loads of Vitamin C from orange juice.  Drinking water during cold and flu season is a plus as it flushes out the system. And drinking tea also helps as it has amino acids in it that can help your immune system fight infections. Personally, I like to have some hot tea before bed. Lately I have been drinking Twinings Prince of Wales tea. It has a lovely flavor - I found it at a local Big Lots if you are looking for a cheap place for tea.

Eat your fruits and veggies.

Yes, it’s like beating a dead horse, I know. But you really should load up on the fruits and veggies. There is something called phytochemicals that are in plants that help fight diseases. For the most punch, load up on dark green, yellow and red fruits and veggies as they have the most phytochemicals. Great examples are berries, tomatoes, broccoli, pomegranates, oranges, garlic, almonds and grapes.

Eat more yogurt.

I don’t know what it is about yogurt, but if you eat a cup of it a day you reduce the chance of catching a cold by something like 25 percent! And oddly enough, it is a great source of protein. And protein apparenty makes up most of your fighting machine, better known as your immune system. Who knew?

Always wash your hands.

It is always a good idea to wash your hands in some warm, soapy water. But it is even more important during cold and flu season when so many people are out coughing and sneezing their cooties everywhere. For tips on how to wash you hand like a doctor, head on over to The Frugal Law Student.

Get that flu shot.

This is something on my “to do” list for next week. I have had the flu before and I tell ya, I never want it again!  It is a good idea to get your flu shot ASAP because the incubation period is about a week. So you could get exposed to some flu cooties and it be a whole week later before you start feeling all crappy. If you have a Minute Clinic near you, they are a great place to go for flu shots. And they provide a lot of other services at a low cost. I don’t have any health insurance so I use them a lot.