Advice From a Germ-a-phobe

One of my worst fears is getting sick, especially when I have a lot to do. Whenever one of my family members, friends, classmates, or clients are sick, I make sure to keep my distance, wash my hands with soap and water before I eat or touch my face, and rinse out any dishes or silverware I use with hot water. A little excessive? Maybe.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm paranoid, but a lot of the time, I find that washing my hands isn't good enough to prevent myself from catching a cold. Here is some advice I've accumulated over the years that helps me stay healthy:

• Surrounded by people with colds/the flu? Check out Echinacea, a natural herb that reduces inflammation in the body, which can lead to diminishing the first signs of a cold. You can find it in specific teas, or capsules at your local health food store, or supplement outlet.

• Did you know that about 70% of our immune system is located in our digestive tract? If you've ever accidentally shared food or drink with someone who has a cold, probiotics can be your new best friend. Probiotics, a good type of bacteria, help maintain a strong immune system. They can be found in probiotic capsules, or more naturally, yogurt, pickles, and dark chocolate.

• Want to keep it simple? Drink lots of water to help your body flush the sickness out of your system.

• Already feeling sick? Take a hot shower, relax, and get to bed early. If all you have is the common cold/flu, I guarantee you will feel at least a little bit better come morning.

Sincerely,

A Germ-a-phobe