Do you catch yourself getting sick during flu season often? Hate to get vaccinated because of the side effects? Read on to find out how to stay healthy during flu season naturally.
*Post contains affiliate links. It’s free for you to click the links, however, if you choose to make a purchase I will get compensated. To learn more click here. Thank you for supporting my blog!
It’s that time of year again!
Yep…flu season.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time for all that.
Flu season usually runs from around October to May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a National Influenza Vaccination Week every year focusing on the importance of the flu vaccine. (This year it will be observed December 1-7 in case you’re interested.)
However, if you’re like me and don’t like getting the vaccine because of the side effects, there are other natural options. I have not been vaccinated for the past few years and so far have not had the flu (knock on wood!). Here are some natural ways I stay healthy during flu season.
Whenever I sneeze or cough I try my best to cover my mouth with a tissue or with my arm. Since those tiny droplets flying out of your mouth during a sneeze or a cough seem to spread the flu virus, I don’t want to pass them along to others. Nothing grosses me out more than somebody sneezing on me near the pharmacy at Walmart.
Make sure that if you have to sneeze or cough. Even better if you have a tissue nearby that you can use. It doesn’t matter if you’re sick or just have allergies, covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing is always a good idea.
The person in front of you at the grocery store has the flu, yet just had to make a trip to the store for medicine and some chicken soup. She sneezes while searching for the chicken soup, her tiny flu germs spreading all over the cans.
ou come along and grab a can of chicken soup for yourself, then bite your fingernails because grocery shopping is stressing you out. Now you’re taking home more than a can of chicken soup.
Viruses enter through your nose, mouth, and eyes, so avoid touching your face to stay healthy when out in public during flu season.
Since the flu virus can spread by direct contact (those sneezed on soup cans), it’s really important to wash your hands frequently throughout the day. This is one of the best methods to use to stay healthy during flu season. I cannot stress this enough to the people in my house.
Use soap and water and wash your hands for 20 – 30 seconds. If you’re out and cannot wash your hands right away, use hand sanitizer.
You’re already supposed to be getting exercise for other health reasons, but did you know that regular exercise also helps us stay healthy during flu season?
Exercising speeds up the heart so that it pumps larger amounts of blood. This helps transfer more oxygen to your body, increasing your body’s natural flu-fighting cells.
Getting plenty of fruits and vegetables is important all year, but during flu season they really come in handy.
The natural chemicals in certain plants give your immune system a huge boost! Vegetables are high in fiber as well as vitamins and minerals. Try the seasonal fruits and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans, pears, cranberries, apples, and grapes.
Lack of sleep can actually lower your immune system, so it’s vital that you get enough sleep during flu season. Loss of sleep plays a role in whether or not we’ll actually get the flu as well as how our body will fight the illness if we do actually get it.
I have a really hard time drinking water in the cooler months, so I have to try to remember to drink a glass every hour. A good way to remember this is to have a water timer on your phone that is set to go off every hour. There are also quite a few water reminding apps out there.
Water keeps us hydrated and is very important to our health. Adding a lemon wedge to your glass of water is also a good idea since lemons restore our body’s acid-alkali balance. This helps to support healthy bacteria instead of the harmful bacteria that thrive in more acidic environments.
Essential oils have become a huge must in my home. My favorite way to use them is to add 6-8 drops of a certain oil to a small diffuser and just leaving it on all day.
A great essential oil to use is the Germ Fighter Synergy Oil from Plant Therapy. If you need a more kid-safe version, try their Germ Destroyer Oil. To give your immune system a boost try the Immune Aid Synergy essential oil.
Shop Essentials Oils for Kids at Plant Therapy.How do you stay healthy during flu season in your family?
Looking for more natural living inspiration? Check out these posts:
Natural Ways to Make Your Home Smell Like Fall
Natural Cleaning Supplies
No-Sew Lavender Drawer Sachet
Do you have too much stuff taking over your living room space? Then you need…
Is your blanket addiction taking up too much space in your home? I get it!…
Learn how to organize a small bedroom when you're on a budget with this complete…
Are you trying to find a way to store all of your bathroom items? Learn…
Spend more time relaxing and less time cleaning with my favorite budget-friendly bathroom cleaning hacks!
A step-by-step guide on how to organize your bathroom to get a more functional space.
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
I just started using essential oils myself. These are such great ideas to stay as healthy as possible this time of the year. Thanks for putting this list together.
Thank you! I'm glad you could find it helpful. When I first started using essential oils I couldn't believe how much information was out there! It can get overwhelming, but I love researching and learning. :)
Thanks for these tips Michelle!
You're very welcome! ?
I am so glad you talked hand washing and not touching your face, Michelle. These are things we need to always be aware of. This may sound bad but I try to go out as little as possible during this time of year. Especially avoiding large crowds in closed in spaces. Also when the kids were at home they were always required to wash hands after coming home from school, work or anywhere.
I think touching our face is one thing that's just so natural we seem to not realize we're doing it sometimes. I'm with you - I try not to go out unless I have to, like grocery shopping. That's great that you made the kids wash their hands as soon as they got home. I did that, too, and now it's habit for us. :)
Great reminders and ideas Michelle!! Love this post!!
Thank you so much!!!
Good ideas here. Nothing beats lots of hand washing, but I also rely on a flu shot.
Thank you so much! :)