Staying Healthy During Cold Season

'Tis the Season...to become very sick. While the holidays can be a festive time in which to spend some quality time with family and friends, it is also a time when we can get ill from a cold or the flu. Here are some simple tips to stay healthy this cold and flu season so that your holidays will remian merry.

Wash your hands as often as possible

Become obsessed with keeping your hands germ-free. The simple reason for this is that we use our hands for everything. We grab items and food all day long and we unconsciously touch our face making the need for hand cleanliness paramount. How long should you wash? Just follow this simple rule that I learned as a child: wash until you have completed the Happy Birthday song, or about one minute.

Bundle Up

Sticking with childhood themes, listen to what yourm mother always advised you as a child and wear appropriate clothing for the season. In the Bay Area, we don't need to wear snow attire, but if you know that you will be outside for many hours, then layer up including wearing a scarf, hat and gloves to keep your extremities warm. Remember, you can always take layers off later as the day progresses.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

This is a tough tip to follow especially this time of the year, but it is so crucial. Make sure to eat lots of fruits and vegetables that are high in disease-preventing antioxidants. Also drink lots of water. To determine how much water you require, simply divide your weight by 2.2. This will give you the fluid ounces that you need to drink.

Reduce Stress

The holidays, ironically, is a very stressful time of the year. We are running around manically decorating, shopping for gifts, planning holiday parties and these added tasks can wear us out. So make sure to set some time aside to relax. Excess stress lower one's resistance and thus make us ill. A little self-care will go a long way this holiday season.

Exercise

This last tip is a no-brainer but surprisingly one of the most difficult things to do. I should know since my job is to help people become more physically fit. Regular vigorous exercise helps to improve immune function and it also sweats out harmful toxins out of your body. So go ahead, go for a fun, lift weights, or take a fun fitness class. The recommended allotment of time is at least 3 days a week for 30 minutes.