Outsmart The Common Cold

We all know that one (annoying) person who manages to stay healthy – even when everyone around them is sneezing and coughing.

You’ve likely wondered what they’re doing that you’re not. You get enough sleep, exercise and eat right, after all.

However, there are some key methods to avoiding getting sick that may have never crossed your mind. Leonard Berkowitz, D.O., director of FAU Medicine Primary Care in Boca Raton, offers the following insider tips to help you prevent catching a cold. 

Get enough vitamin D. Everyone thinks of vitamin C as the primary cold buster, but vitamin D is just as important. Many people fall short of their daily requirement, which can weaken the immune system, he says. Aim for 600 to 800 IU of vitamin D daily through foods like egg yolks, salmon, tuna, shrimp and oysters; sun exposure; or supplements.

Drink green tea. For centuries, green tea has been associated with good health, likely due to its high levels of antioxidants. While the amount of tea needed to stay healthy varies from person to person, Dr. Berkowitz says, “studies have shown there are benefits when drinking as little as one cup a day.”

Don’t eat at your desk. You probably don’t realize how many germs live in and around your workstation. When you eat at your desk, you tend to keep working. So, in between bites, you’re touching your keyboard, mouse, phone and other contaminated surfaces, which can lead to illness, he says.

Skip the nightcap. While that glass of wine before bed may help you fall asleep faster, it will likely result in poor-quality shuteye. Since sleep is restorative to your immune system, you’re not doing yourself any favors, says Dr. Berkowitz.

Wash sheets and blankets weekly. You likely wipe down your kitchen counter frequently to eradicate germs. But one area you might have overlooked is your bed. Launder sheets and blankets at least once a week. “Keep areas we’re exposed to on a regular basis as germ-free as possible,” he says. O

Just A Spoonful

Instead of an apple a day, try a spoonful of Hanah One a day. Add the Ayurvedic superfood paste – which contains 30 wild-harvested botanicals in a base of Keralan mountain honey, artisanal ghee and sesame oil – to your coffee or smoothie to give your immune system a powerful boost. Visit hanahlife.com.

Note: Dr. Berkowitz does not endorse Hanah One nor is affiliated with it in any way.