Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

Maintain A Healthy Immune System Eat a balanced diet Five fruits and vegetables Whole grains Avoid excess sugar Stay hydrated 6-10 cups daily Consider taking vitamin and mineral supplements

Maintain A Healthy Immune System Get adequate sleep 8-10 hours Stay active Control stress Automate Show up early Avoid over-commitment Keep your skin moist Lip balm and hand lotion Stay in God’s Word

Be on Germ Patrol: Don’t Pick Up Germs Practice frequent hand washing Use a nail brush Keep your hands away from your face Be aware of the surfaces you touch Use sanitizer gel Don’t drink or eat after others

Be on Germ Patrol: Don’t Spread Your Germs Cover your cough or sneeze Use a tissue or handkerchief Wash your hands often Excuse yourself from hand shaking Or wash your hands ahead of time Stay home if you’re sick

Be on Germ Patrol: Practice Cleanliness Remember that bacteria grows in moist areas Properly clean sponges Dishwasher or microwave Use dishcloths instead Disinfect food preparation areas Let it sit 7-10 minutes before wiping and rinsing Do a once a week wipe-down Practice cutting board care Use separate board for meat products Properly clean boards “Raw meat products also carry E. coli, a form of fecal bacteria that usually gets destroyed during the cooking process. Failure to properly disinfect sinks, counters, cutting boards and other food prep surfaces is a recipe for a germ-ridden disaster. Gerba stated that because most people only wipe or rinse off cutting boards rather than thoroughly washing or putting them in the dishwasher, the average kitchen cutting board carries 200 more fecal bacteria than a toilet seat. Given that the majority of people focus their cleaning efforts on the bathroom, he noted that “It’s safer to make a sandwich on the toilet seat than the cutting board.” AZ Republic, Dec 5, 2012