It’s wise to find ways to build your immune system before you’re exposed to a virus. It’s much easier for your body to attack a virus with a strong immune system than to fight a virus while trying to strengthen it simultaneously.

 

According to a research study, flu viruses may remain detectable on surfaces like keyboards and doorknobs for up to 24 hours. But, they remain infectious for a shorter time period, generally 4-9 hours.

 

Cold and flu viruses generally remain active longer on non-porous surfaces, like counters or keypads, as opposed to porous materials like paper and fabric.

 

Other factors, such as the amount of virus deposited on a surface and the temperature and humidity of the environment, also determine how long cold and flu viruses stay active outside the body.

 

It's possible to catch a cold or the flu after touching an object an infected person sneezed or coughed on. But, you’re more likely to become infected by someone contagious.  Physical contact with an infected person or breathing droplets in the air from a cough or sneeze is the most common way viruses spread.

 

How to Lessen Your Chances of Catching a Cold or the Flu

 

The best way to avoid becoming ill with the flu is to get a flu shot every year at the beginning of flu season. Some vaccines are available as early as August. Also, avoid touching your face and wash your hands frequently or use an all natural hand purifier(Silver gel?).

 

Another preventative measure is to avoid sharing personal items. Sharing drinking glasses, utensils, towels or makeup could expose you to a virus if the person you are sharing with is infected. The same precautions go for cold viruses, but there are no vaccines to protect us against colds.

Build Your Immune System

Staying healthy involves more than just practicing good hygiene and staying away from contagious people.  It involves keeping your immune system healthy.

 

The time to focus on building your immune system isn't when you get sick. It’s now. When you build your immune system, your body’s better prepared to fight off viruses. Knowing what your body needs to strengthen it is the place to start.

 

Many lifestyle factors influence the immune response. For example, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can decrease your body’s immune response. Eating a healthy diet, exercising and getting enough sleep have a positive impact on the immune system.

Proper Nutrition

Giving your body the nutrition it needs to strengthen your body’s immune function is paramount.

Your body needs a well-balanced diet filled with lots of vegetables, healthy protein and fruit. Whether you follow a vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, plant-based diet or none of these, you must get the nutrition you need to build a healthy immune system.

Some veggies, fruit and spices are particularly helpful in boosting the immune system. Spinach, citrus fruits and ginger are a few examples.

Exercise

Your body is built to move. It isn’t made to sit at a desk or lounge on the sofa for hours every day.  Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous. Just getting up from your chair and moving around a little every hour can make a difference. 

 

Going for a walk or bike ride, playing a sport, dancing or any activity that gets you moving can be effective in helping to build your immune system.

Sleep

 

The quality of your sleep each night is more important than the number of hours you sleep. Although eight hours is the standard recommendation, if those hours are spent tossing and turning, are interrupted or not deep enough, your body isn’t getting the quality sleep it needs to be healthy.

 

If you feel you’re not getting enough quality sleep, there are things you can do and things you can avoid doing to help improve your sleep quality. 

 

A few things you can do are:

• Keep your bedroom cool
• Make your bedroom as dark as possible
• Make your bedroom as quiet as possible

 

A few things you can avoid are:

• Texting or any other phone or computer activities in bed
• Watching TV in bed
• Drinking alcohol close to bedtime

 

If you want to build your immune system and get it ready to fight any virus or pathogen this cold and flu season, follow these tips and be prepared. 

If you need extra support for your immune system, try Ameo Life’s silver products.