Chances are, you know someone who has already suffered from the awful and tell-tale signs of the flu; the body aches, sniffling, headaches, vomiting and overall discomfort are nothing to sneeze at! One of the many benefits of living a healthy lifestyle is the natural prevention against the infectious flu. How? Living a healthy lifestyle helps to boost your immune system, thus making it less likely that you catch what’s going around. Ever wonder how some people just never get sick? Chances are they have a higher immune system and probably have a few tricks up their sleeves like the ones below.

1. Keep moving! Regular exercise naturally boosts your immune system. In general, the more you do (just don’t overdo it!), the more you raise your defenses.
2. Bulk up on fruits and veggies. These power-house foods are naturally loaded with antioxidants and the vitamins you need to keep you protected.
3. Don’t forget your supplements. At the very least, a daily multi-vitamin will act as a safe-guard and filling in any voids in your diet.
4. Make sure your getting enough sleep. Ever notice that you are more likely to get sick when your lacking sleep and overly-stressed? Lack of sleep and an overload of stress taxes your system and weakens your immunity.
5. Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose and mouth. Remember that every time you touch a surface like a door knob or hand-rail you are exposed to a host of germs. It’s best to avoid touching your face and wash hands as often as possible to prevent the spread of viruses. Make sure to scrub up with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. It’s also a good idea to keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer handy when you are out and about.
6. Pay special attention to washing your hands and avoiding touching your face, particularly after visiting public places like the gym or mall.
7. If a family member is sick, encourage them to sneeze into a tissue instead of the air and ask them to wash their hands frequently. Wiping down hard surfaces such as door knobs, the telephone and even the fridge handle with Lysol is also good prevention when someone close to you is ill.

Remember, staying active, getting enough sleep, eating a varied diet and practicing a few flu-proof habits will help to keep you healthy this season. Be well!