Some other basic tips:
o Wash your hands on a regular basis. "The biggest thing is washing your hands, especially when you're working around people and you are in close contact with people in a closed environment, like a workspace", says Claudia R., a United Healthcare Company nurse. Hand-to-mouth contact is the easiest way to catch the virus, and you can catch it just by touching a doorknob or shaking somebody's hand. Don't have a sink handy? A bottle of hand sanitizer will also do the trick.
o Keep up a healthy diet. Staying within the food pyramid and focusing on raw vegetables, fruits, and drinking a lot of liquids is a step in the right direction. Drinking fresh fruit juice (anything high in Vitamin C) and green tea will maintain the strength of your red and white blood cells, as well as normalize your blood circulation.
o Make sure to get a lot of rest. A lack of sleep can result in a decrease of immune cells, leaving you more susceptible to catching the flu virus. "Viral infections are opportunistic, and if you are stressing out, not eating properly and not getting enough sleep, it is easier to catch the virus", Hewitt says.
o Stay warm. Maintaining a normal body temperature is a key factor in staying healthy. So when the degrees drop, make sure to bundle up and try to stay indoors.
You could also take the holistic and homeopathic route, and build up your immune system by supplementing your diet with certain foods and some herbs. Brazil nuts, walnuts, salmon, and shellfish all can help strengthen your immune system. Some other beneficial herbs are echinacea, raw garlic (they come in pill form so you can avoid the halitosis) and ginseng.
If you do end up getting sick, the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta recommends taking medications including acetaminophen (Tylenol), and avoiding alcohol and tobacco until the virus leaves your system.
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