I live in Dallas where we’ve been in headline after headline about the few cases of Ebola diagnoses that have occured here in the past few months. Though the media frenzy has certainly heightened our concern about the spread of disease, we have been doing our best to remain calm about the situation. While it’s unlikely that most of us will ever have to deal with Ebola (I say this moreso as a prayer than a proclamation), there are a ton of other viruses and bacterium that we get frequent exposure to, especially during this time of year.

I had a stomach virus just the other day that knocked me clean off my feet, and laid me out with a fever. I’ve never experienced cold sweats quite like that. Fortunately for me, I was only out for a day. I don’t get sick very much at all. The few times I have, have just been mild occasions and didn’t last for long. Everyone isn’t so fortunate as I am. So, I figured I’d give a couple rules for staying out of the Doctor’s office this year.

1. Stay hydrated. Water flushes out your body. Toxins and bacteria included. It keeps your body functioning at a high level, which is exactly what you need when your immune system is working over time.

2. Boost your immune system. Shy away from drugs that only treat symptoms, and focus more on incorporating vitamins into your regular diet. Eat the most nutrient rich foods you can find, and eat lots of them. Vitamin C and Zinc are your best friends this time of year. Here’s a list of foods high in Vitamin C and here’s a list of foods high in Zinc.

3. Eat at home. Restaurants are filthy places year round. People with varying degrees of hygeine are crammed into one place and forced to use the same gently washed utensils over and over again. And let’s not even talk about the kitchens. I don’t believe in living in fear, but it would definitely be wise to limit your time eating out this time of year. Try more intimate settings and set up dinner parties at your and your loved ones’ homes.

4. Be careful. This may seem like a no brainer, but sometimes we think we’re invincible. If you’re at school/work/wherever and you see people coughing up their lungs, and constantly missing days because they’re continuously sick, stay away from them. Wash your hands. A lot. And don’t kiss strangers…not even on New Year’s 😉

Stay safe, stay healthy. Try to follow these tips and see if it helps you stay in the clear this year!

xoxo Kaisha