Hoping to keep your family healthy as we head into cold and flu season? There’s no need for industrial-strength sanitizing—just some simple moves will do the trick.
Decorate with fruit. A colorful bowl of fruit on the kitchen or dining room table isn’t just pretty decor—it’s a healthy offering to your family. Fruits are rich in nutrients that help keep you healthy. Make sure to use fruits that do well out of the fridge—like oranges and bananas.
Go after germ hot spots. Sinks and sponges are hot spots for germs. Clean the sink after every use, and wipe down with a disinfectant cleaner every week, making sure to cover the faucet handles, too. For sponges, you can toss damp ones into the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes on high or wash them in the dishwasher. Replace sponges every 2 weeks. Also, take 5 minutes to wipe down the telephone, light switches, doorknobs, refrigerator door handles, TV remotes, and communal pens—they see a lot of germ action, too.
Schedule a flu vaccine. Getting vaccinated is the single best way to help prevent your family from catching the flu, which sickens as much as 20% of the population each year.1 And it takes just minutes to make the call and schedule an appointment. Consider getting everyone in the household vaccinated, but especially children over 6 months of age, people with chronic health problems, pregnant women, and people aged 50 and up.2 Since some flu vaccines are available now, you may want to consider early vaccinations. Not only is it convenient to have your child vaccinated during their back to school checkup, an early vaccination may help prepare your family if the flu comes early this year.
Take a time-out. Too much stress in a busy household makes everyone more vulnerable to catching colds and the flu. Take even just a few minutes every day to relax and unwind. For a quick way to lift away stress, give yourself a qigong self-massage. Place your fingertips on your forehead at the hairline and exhale as you stroke through your hair to the back of your neck. Repeat 10 times.
1. Key Facts About Seasonal Influenza (Flu). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm. Accessed June 19, 2009.
2. Key Facts About Seasonal Influenza (Flu). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm. Accessed June 19, 2009.
My mouse is rarely wiped down unless someone is sick - which isn't often. That's my point here. I don't go nuts disinfecting and we get sick less often than other families I know. I always wonder why their kids are always sick and mine aren't. We also don't have allergies in my house. I agree with Melissa above about changing toothbrushes and cleaning the holder. Our holder gets cleaned everytime I wipe down the vanity. Toothbrushes are changed every couple of months unless someone gets sick - then we all get a new toothbrush right away.
Decadent (yet smart!) desserts
