Cool weather has arrived; most of us are enjoying the trees changing into their beautiful autumn foliage and the opportunities for cozying up around the campfire and sipping hot apple cider. But the colder months – especially as we gear up to head into winter – aren\u2019t all fun and games. In all likelihood, you know several people right now who have come down with some kind of cold or flu. Naturally, we all want to avoid getting sick. Here are a few quick tips for keeping illness bay.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Wash your hands. This is just plain ol\u2019 common sense that we dish out to our kids all the time. Washing your hands frequently helps keep germs and bacteria off surfaces that regularly make contact with your eyes, mouth and nose. Remember to wash especially after you have been out at the store or library, and when your kids come home from school. I have gotten into the habit of just washing my hands whenever I get home, period – no matter where I have been. Keep a little bottle of hand sanitizer or individual wipes in your purse for on-the-go cleansing (you can also use those wipes to sanitize the covers of library books and shopping cart handles).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Eat lots of healthy, cold-busting foods rich with ingredients like onion and garlic (you know the old chicken soup remedy is still a good idea!). When I feel like I might be coming down with something, I\u2019ll even eat a raw clove of garlic… and follow it up with a big glass of water! Nasty as that may sound, it usually works. If you don\u2019t think you can stomach it, you could try the tastier, gourmet version: cut the top quarter off a head of garlic and put it in a small baking pan. Drizzle olive oil on top until it\u2019s coated and bake it at 400\u00baF for about a half our, until it\u2019s nice and soft. Then you can dig out the individual cloves and spread them on bread with a little salt and some parmesan cheese if you wish. Not a bad way to knock out a cold, eh?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Keep a clean house. This is along the lines of washing your hands. Keeping your bathroom clean is important, especially a shared bathroom. Wipe it down regularly with an antibacterial product, such as Lysol<\/a>, or if you prefer a more natural cleaner, try Thieves Cleaner<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2022 Stay warm! When the weather turns cold, keeping yourself warm when you go out\u00a0 plays a big role in staying healthy. Wear a hat. Did you know that most of your body heat escapes out of your head? Wearing a hat conserves your body heat and keeps you warmer… which helps keep you healthier!<\/p>\n \u2022 Already have a cold? Do everyone else a favor and keep it to yourself. Don\u2019t go out unless you have to, and if you do have to run to the store, remember others and cough into your sleeve, and make sure your hands are clean before you touch something that someone else may handle after you.<\/p>\n As you bundle up for the cold season, I hope these tips will prove useful to keeping your home sickness-free this year!<\/p>\n \u201cI wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.<\/a>\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n About Lysol<\/strong> More info on Lysol<\/strong>: http:\/\/www.lysol.com\/mission-for-health<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWe do more not just because we can, but because we must. Health matters. To all of us. That’s why we’ve started the Lysol Mission for Health. With new mom programs, healthy habits initiatives in schools and disaster relief efforts, we are dedicated to doing more for health. Our mission is fueled by passion and backed by our expertise in killing germs. So when you use Lysol at home, you’ll know you’re a part of something bigger.<\/p>\n