12 Ways to Stay Healthy

~ Levi, staying healthy and well ~

Every time I go grocery shopping, I hear people talking about how sick they've been. Recently, two women were talking and one said, "I've been on antibiotics three times since Christmas and I'm still sick." Needless to say, I gave a wide berth. There are some things you can do to decrease your opportunities to become sick and include:

1. Wash your hands often. Duh, right but do you wash correctly? Do you wash between your fingers, backs of hands as well as palms and wrists? Between the fingers is especially important because moist, heat and dark is a breeding ground for bacteria. And, don't touch your face, all you're doing is transferring germs from your hands to your face.

2. Do you use hand sanitizer when you can't wash? If so, rub your hands briskly; the heat will assist in making the sanitizer work more effectively. Sanitizer can be harsh but a good alternative is Gold Bond Ultimate Hand Sanitizer Moisturizer. 

3. Change your bathroom hand towels daily. Especially if you have small children who, sometimes, don't wash their hands as well as they should.

4. Boost your immune system by taking Sambucol, drinking elderberry juice or taking Echinacea.

5. Use tissues instead of handkerchiefs. Yes, handkerchiefs look prettier but they tend to retain germs; use tissues once and throw the germs away. 

6. Drink lots of water; the rule of thumb is, take half your body weight and drink that amount of ounces of water per day. Flushing your body of toxins will help keep your healthy. 

7. Exercise every day. It doesn't have to be an hour at the gym but a fifteen minute walk will do wonders for your mental attitude as well as your body.

8. Get enough sleep even if it means you don't get the housework done or the errands run. If you shortchange yourself in the sleep department, eventually, you'll pay for it with illness.

9. Short term, smoking lowers the immune system and, long term, it causes more severe health problems. Avoid second hand smoke, whenever possible.

10. Eat a diet heavy in vegetables and fruits and less red meats. If you do snack, choose snacks that are healthful. 

11. Make sure you have time, each day, for yourself. Do something that makes you happy  and allows you time away from your normal circumstances or problems.

12. If you do work outside the home, if at all possible, please don't go to work sick. There are bosses who would rather you go to work, no matter how sick, but all you're doing is spreading germs and keeping the illness alive. 

If you do feel like you're coming down with a cold, or God forbid something worse, increase your vitamin C and zinc intake. It's difficult to overdose on vitamin C because the overage is flushed out with urine. Cut down on sugar or cut it out entirely; sugar will compromise your immune system.

I'm hoping you'll stay healthy so you can do those things you have to do as well as those things you want to do. A lot of good health is within your power but you have to make right choices for yourself and your family; go and be well.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." ~ Albert Einstein ~

Today's Miracles ~ good health ~ right choices ~ elderberry juice ~ vitamin C ~ zinc ~ vegetables and fruits ~ sleep ~ water ~