How to Stay Healthy This Holiday Season
Posted on December 14, 2011
Think it's impossible for you and your family to stay healthy this holiday season? Practice these tips and you'll be celebrating your good health all season long:
1. Keep your distance. But the holidays are about being close… Hey, germs love being close. At distances of less than 3 feet, you can pick up a nice variety of germs through those water droplets that shoot from your Aunt Vickie’s mouth and nose as she fills you in on the latest gossip. Decrease your risk of getting sick by staying out of the danger zone (sorry Aunt Vickie). Beware of common shared items such as the telephone, remote control, door handles and utensils.
2. Wash your hands frequently. To avoid getting sick, frequently wash your hands with warm water and soap or carry a little bottle of hand sanitizer.
3. Beware of the buffet table. Double dippers and spoon slickers ruin the party for everyone. Resist the temptation, and don’t hesitate to make an example of Uncle Steve’s awful habit. Don’t let him even think about using his finger to slick the mashed potatoes off the spoon, or “finger test” the gravy, especially after “scratching” his nose.
4. Don’t drink in excess. Alcohol will dehydrate you and reduce your body’s ability to produce the wonderful protective mucus that traps the germs Aunt Vickie spews at you. Drinking too much could cause you to use poor judgment and insult your Dad’s new girlfriend, or lose your inhibitions completely and end up giving Aunt Vickie that kiss she’s been after all night. The worst decision would be driving while intoxicated -- that’s just stupid. If none of those reasons are enough to deter you, remember that alcohol also has a lot of calories and could bust your diet… (Hey, it was worth a try…)
5. Stay home if you’re sick. Stay home if you have symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose or a cough, or if you have a fever or body aches. NOBODY WANTS TO SEE YOU BAD ENOUGH TO GET SICK ANYWAY.
6. Sleep. Even missing an hour or two of sleep per night can wear down your immune system and increase your stress levels, making you more susceptible to germs.
7. Maintain a healthy diet. If you splurge every day until new years, you can easily gain 5 to 10 pounds.
8. Keep hydrated. Cold, dry air and alcohol consumption will dry out your mucus membranes, breaking down your natural barrier to infection. To avoid getting sick, make sure the drink plenty of water, especially when traveling.
9. Exercise. Now is not the time to take a break from your exercise routine. Regular exercise will help you keep off the holiday weight and provide a great stress relief. Besides - if you stop now, who’s to say you’ll have the will power to start up again once the holidays are over?
10. Don’t forget about your mental health. Stress affects your immune system. Many people put too much pressure on themselves to create the perfect Christmas celebrations for their family. Decide what’s most important to you and let the rest slide.