Cold and flu season officially arrives during the “Fall Spike” when temperatures begin to drop and kids are back in school again. For most families, it is tough to stay on top of the Fall Spike and prevent your family from falling victim to illness. So I have partnered with Loblaws to bring you some useful tips to help you get prepared to battle the germs that invade during this season each year. From the food aisle to the pharmacy, your local Real Canadian Superstore has great products to help you maintain good health during cold and flu season.
That being said, let’s start with the following 4 actionable tips so you can be on your way to staying healthy at this time of the year!
4 Tips for Cold and Flu Season’s Fall Spike in Germs
1. Go into the season with a healthy immune system.
Don’t slack on taking care of your health. This means practicing good nutrition and healthy habits all year long. Even if you haven’t always had the best health habits, you can battle the cold and flu season like a pro by adopting healthy habits now. Did you know, the in-store dietitians at your local Loblaws can help you prepare for cold and flu season with nutrient rich foods and recipes that help support good overall and immune health? That’s right!
- Eat nutrient-dense meals and avoid high fat or high sugar foods.
- Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated. Avoid sugary drinks like sodas.
- Get regular exercise to help keep your body in good shape and able to fight against germs.
- Get enough sleep every night. The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night. The average child needs 8-11 hours of sleep each night. Stop scrimping and get the sleep you need.
- Limit stress in your daily life. Avoid confrontation, stressful situations, and plan accordingly so your family can be in a low stress environment as much as possible.
2. Stay on top of keeping things clean.
Illness primarily comes from the spread of germs. During the cold and flu season, germs are stronger and more prominent since more and more people fall victim to the Fall Spike in illness. Not only can you prevent illness by keeping things clean, but you can help keep others healthy in the process.
- Teach children to wash their hands properly. Scrubbing hands, between fingers, and under fingernails with hot soapy water and rinsing well will rid your hands of germs.
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes with your hands. This is especially important if you have been touching public surfaces.
- Properly sanitize your home. Kitchens and bathrooms get the most attention, but don’t forget to sanitize other commonly handled items: light switches, door knobs, cabinet handles, drawer handles, laptops, smartphones, tablets, keyboards, computer mouse, remote controls, and gaming system controllers.
3. Get your annual flu shot.
A flu shot is a must for helping prevent many strains of the flu during this Fall Spike of cold and flu season. With the availability and ease of getting one at your local pharmacy, there really is no reason not to protect your family this year. A flu shot is the best way to prevent flu, and is available through in-store pharmacists at Loblaws stores across the country! Make sure to make use of what is accessible to you to stay healthy.
At the @RealCdnSS getting my #flushot! A great way to not to get under weather #LoblawsFluCrew
The flu shot is a simple vaccination that fights against the most common strain of flu for that season. It can help prevent many instances of influenza and is especially important for those who are immune compromised. Individuals with auto immune disorders, children, and the elderly who all may have a more difficult time fighting off the flu should always get their flu shot. While it is recommended for everyone, these categories are most important as they are the most likely to fall ill and suffer complications from the flu.
[bctt tweet=”4 Tips for Cold and Flu Season’s Fall Spike in Germs #LoblawsFluCrew #coldandflu” username=”amomlessmom”]
4. Avoid the doctor unless necessary.
Yes, you should see a doctor if needed, but during the busy cold and flu season avoid visits if at all possible. Schedule routine checkups and annual visits for other times of the year so you and your family aren’t exposed to so many germs. Don’t visit the doctor for minor issues that can be handled with rest and care at home. Call the nurse hotline to discuss symptoms prior to making an appointment to make sure there isn’t something they can recommend that would keep you and your family safely at home away from the flu season germs.
These easy tips for cold and flu season are just what you and your family need to avoid that Fall Spike in germs. A little preventative care and some simple reminders can make it much easier to keep your family healthy during this year’s cold and flu season.
Don’t forget to book a FREE appointment with an in-store dietitian at Loblaws for more information on foods that help support good overall and immune health, and while you are there, visit the in-store pharmacist for a flu shot.
Here is to a cold and flu free season!
****Disclosure:This post is written in partnership with Loblaws but thoughts expressed here are my own and honest****
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Probiotics are also great for prevention – drink kefir.