Avoid winter colds and flu with this dish.

It’s that time of year again, what time, you ask? The holiday season, No, cold and flu
season. And although it may (or may not) be true, news reports say that our
emergency rooms are being filled with people who are sick.

If you’re now healthy and want to stay that way (and out of the emergency room)
here are some simple steps you can take to stay well this holiday season.

The simple steps:
* Enjoy “Me” Time-
Don’t spend your alone time watching negative news (political news about Twitter)
or gossiping with a friend or family member about another family member or neighbor.
Use that time to read a book, take a warm bath or do an arts & craft project (like scrapbooking).
Doing one or all of the activities listed will lower stress levels and lowered stress levels
means an increase in the number of virus-killing antibodies in your system and that results
in a 40% less risk of developing the flu.
* Take This Vitamin-
If you thought it was C, you’re wrong. It’s vitamin D-3. This vitamin kicks starts the production
of virus-destroying compounds, cutting your risk of getting the flu by 50%.
The recommended dose: 3,000 IU daily.
Remember to talk to your health-care provider before adding any type of supplement to
your daily regimen.
* Sleep With This-
You’re probably aware of the importance of sleep to protect yourself from a host of
illnesses and diseases, but getting the right amount is always tricky and one way to
ensure that you’ll get 6 1/2 to 8 hours each night is to wear a mask.
Any amount of light that seeps in could raise your risk of getting the flu.
Getting at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep, increases the production of
virus-killing immune cells by about 40%, often within 1 week.
Look for sleep masks at any store (Target, Walmart) or online at Amazon.com.
* Watch The Germs-
We did a post a while back about the “germiest” spots in your home and workplace,
so go back and read it. But to refresh your memories, here are 3.
Your Purse- The bottom of a woman’s purse is usually contaminated, so make sure
to clean it weekly and keep it (your purse) off of the kitchen table and countertops.
Restaurants-
If you regularly go out to eat, make sure to ask if the tray has been cleaned?
You can take your cup and plate off the tray, clean your hands with
disinfectant and ask the wait staff to take the tray away.
Shopping Carts-
A number of stores now offer disinfectant and disinfectant sheets right at
the entrance, so take advantage of them and wipe down the handles
(of the cart) and then your hands. A quick rub of disinfectant sheets can
destroy 100% of the troublemaking germs.
* Eat Some Orange Foods-
More specifically carrots and sweet potatoes.
Both foods contain beta-carotene, a powerful compound that revs your production
of key antiviral compounds, which help your body kill off invading flu viruses.
Eat a carrot in a salad or a small sweet potato with butter and maple syrup
or combine the two and make the following dish.
The Dish:
Carrot-Sweet Potato Mash!
Ingredients:
1 lb. of carrots
1 lb. sweet potatoes (2 medium-sized), cut into chunks
1/2 cup of warmed milk
2 Tbs. of butter, melted
1/4 tsp. of black pepper
1/2 tsp. of salt
toasted walnuts (optional)
To make:
In a pot, combine the 2 vegetables, cover with water.
Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat; simmer until tender.
Drain the veggies; return to the pot, add the milk, butter and pepper.
Season to taste with salt. If you’re a fan of nuts, add the toasted
walnuts. Enough for 6 servings.
Another tip:
You can also stir-fry some greens in 1Tbs. of olive or avocado oil
and eat them as a second side dish or place atop the orange mash.
(spinach, kale or Swiss chard)
Greens like carrots and sweet potatoes, also offer some benefits
when it comes to fighting off invading viruses.

That’s it- some simple steps you can take to staying cold and flu-free this Winter.
Good Luck!

Sources:
* American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
* Michael Holick, M.D. Professor at Boston University
* New Zealand Research Team

Please pass this article (and the recipe) on to loved ones who are
prone to colds and flu this time of year.
Share it over at Facebook, Tik-Tok, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest,
Snapchat, Reddit, and Twitter.

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