Easy tips to stay well always

Wash your hands frequently: Your hands transmit infections, especially cold and flu more effectively than any other parts of your body will, doctors have confirmed. Even from simple experiments, in exchanging handshakes with someone who has catarrh and not washing your hands immediately, you will find that you have contracted it as well. You should […]

Wash your hands frequently: Your hands transmit infections, especially cold and flu more effectively than any other parts of your body will, doctors have confirmed. Even from simple experiments, in exchanging handshakes with someone who has catarrh and not washing your hands immediately, you will find that you have contracted it as well.

You should develop the habit of washing your hands immediately you get home from work or from an outing, or after you have had to shake hands with people. Before you get round to washing your hands, try to keep them away from your face, mouth, eyes and nose areas. It is as simple as can be but a difficult habit to inculcate.

Go warm: As much as you can, protect yourself with some warm clothing. If you think it will get too hot at some point in the day, wrap a shawl around you when you are going out. When it gets hot later in the day, you can take it off. According to doctors, you can’t catch a cold purely from being outside in cold weather, but feeling chilly could lower your immunity.

In the course of a research carried out by Dr Ronald Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University in Wales, volunteers who submerged their feet in icy water were 20 per cent likelier to come down with a sore throat and runny nose than those who kept their dogs warm.

Wear head warmers when you go to sleep if you live in an area like Jos and other similarly cold regions. Do not underestimate the power and effect of the harmattan period on you. You could enjoy it by going a little stylish and fashionable with your colour choices and wrap styles.

Use your own biro: Many of us are guilty of losing our biros as fast as we are at borrowing other people’s own. This is one sure way of carrying and transferring bacteria and germs. Always keep a biro in your bag, since they are inexpensive and could save you from future expenses.

Unbelievable as it seems, there are people (adults particularly) who involuntarily make their mouth/lips their pen holders. Whether it belongs to you or not, your mouth area is not the best place to secure your biro; find something more suitable and accessible to you.

Stay healthily active: Aside the fact that exercising makes your body look great, it also serves as an immunity booster as well as improves your bone and circulation strength, experts say.

Try to make it a routine of working out at least three times a week for no less than 30 minutes on each round. According to fitness experts, people who follow intense gym sessions with a rubdown restore levels of molecules in saliva that stave off germs. Finish your rounds with a toning routine you can do anywhere.

Have fun: Don’t stay holed up at home or in your workplace. Go out and have fun with family members and friends. Make the most of the dry cool weather for the next couple of months. Have a picnic with family and friends; enjoy hearty laughter with your kids at their seemingly funny jokes. Party and enjoy a good dance. Just let go and let loose.

Eat healthy: As you bubble, remember to balance your diet. I understand how tough this can be because even I have had to apply it to myself.

Allow yourself a few treats, but be sure not to overdo it. Therefore, when you stock up on food items, be sure to look out for those rich in vitamins and those that are energy builders and immunity bolsters. Nutritionists advise that we consume more green peppers and tomatoes, which all contain vitamin C and help to bolster our immunity.

They suggest too that we eat plenty of avocado and spinach which are major health improvers, especially when eaten together. The monounsaturated fats in avocado release spinach’s nutrients: You’ll absorb up to 15 times more beta carotene, which can strengthen the immune system and ward off infection by pairing the two.