Stay Healthy, Save Money

Fever, cold,  flu, pneumonia…this time of year, someone you know or you yourself has probably been sick. Though many times you can get better with over the counter drugs and rest, sometimes an illness that isn’t tended to can be disastrous (ie. a cold turns into bronchitis which turns into pneumonia!) Doctor visits, prescription drugs and taking the time off of work can be expensive not to mention making you feel crappy during the process of recovery.

Stay Healthy

Let’s start with staying healthy without becoming ill in the first place.

1. Wash your hands frequently. This seems so simple, yet it’s the number one pathway for germs. You don’t have to become obsessive, compulsive, but before you eat, after you eat, after using the restroom and anytime you are around anyone ill or small children (aka petrie dishes of germs!), wash your hands!
2. Drink plenty of water. Again, another no-brainer, but during the winter months many people forgo water. Keeping hydrated helps you ward off illness.
3. Take your vitamins. A good multivitamin can help you get all those vitamins and minerals you may not be getting naturally from your diet. Let’s be honest – how many of us actually eat 4-5 servings of fruit and veggies everyday?
4. Eat healthy. Obviously, if you’re a whole-foods, organic enthusiast there’s a good chance you are getting all of your vitamins through your foods so you can skip number 3. For the rest of us, eat as healthy as you can, limit processed foods, eat more whole veggies, legumes, quinoa (really good protein!), and fruit and reduce the meat.
5. Exercise. A healthy, in-shape body appears to stay healthy longer and can recuperate from an illness faster than one that’s out of shape. Obviously, if you’re coming down with something and don’t feel well enough to exercise, then don’t. But the rest of the time you should be fitting in moderate exercise into your daily routine. (*I’m not a doctor, so seek advice if you haven’t exercised in a while!)

Get Well Quick

If you’ve already caught a bug, it’s time to limit the amount of down time. Pretty much all of the tips for staying healthy apply here, but I’ll add a few more:

1. Rest. There’s really no way around this one, the more you are able to rest, the quicker you will get well. Many times people push themselves due to a hectic schedule, no more sick days left, or that internal “I will drag myself into work until I pass out!” motto. Just rest.
2. Get ye to the doctor. Okay, so this is where I have trouble following my own advice. I’ll keep my illness at bay with OTC drugs until I’m hacking up golf-ball size mucus and phlegm. Yet, if a cold or flu or bad cough doesn’t go away within a few days, seek medical help.
3. Follow the doctor’s orders. I bet if you surveyed 100 doctors, their number one complaint about patients would be that they don’t follow the doctor’s orders. Take the medication they prescribe following their orders, rest if that’s what they recommend and follow-up when they see fit.

I’ve been fortunate this year and only caught the sniffles earlier this year. (Knock on wood – my throat is sore as I type this.) I’ll be taking my Airborne this evening and drinking plenty of tea and water to soothe the scratchy parts that might be from over-talking/raising my voice. I hope. My daily bike rides and orange snacks should help boost my immune system and get me through the holidays.

What tips would you add to stay healthy during cold and flu season?