A Simple List On How To Not Get Sick

[I love Alan Rickman]

It's cold season, and it seems like everyone I know is getting sick, coughing, sniffling, sneezing, all that such. However, last year I completely survived this dreadful season (for me it's dreadful cause it messes with my sneeze fetish and cough fetish, and even though I have these fetishes, I hate being sick and try my best not to be) with only one sickness time, and it was just a mini cold that wasn't bad at all and lasted two days. I've had times where my throat was sore, I was coughing, and I had a runny nose, and I thought it might be a cold, but it was just my post-nasal drip and went away real quick with no other symptoms. I would like to give four simple steps to any fetishists out there that may be like me and want to prevent illness but are less successful.

 

1. Eat kiwis, if you like them. I love kiwis, and ever since I've started eating them almost every other day, I have noticed I've no longer been getting sick nearly as often.  Kiwis are high in many beneficial nutrients, and even though I don't believe it's scientifically proven, it's definitely been working for me, so I'd give it a shot.

 

2. Hold your breath when someone coughs or sneezes. This is also something I've picked up on my own, and it definitely seems to work. Don't mistake this for breathing in and holding your breath, because that would probably make it worse. Instead, if someone nearby coughs or sneezes, just generally hold your breath for about 10–15 seconds if possible, but don't make yourself pass out from asphyxiation. Breathe if you need to.

 

3. DON'T blow your nose a lot. I'll admit, I'm actually pretty scared to blow my nose in public and refuse to do so. People I know that blow their nose a lot actually are getting sicker. I've heard it's because it actually pushes mucus back into the throat or something like that. Guess what? I only blow my nose if it's absolutely unbearable and haven't gotten a full-out cold in years, no joke.

 

4. Wash your hands. Of course, I couldn't leave this out. Wash your hands before eating, when you get home from work/school, etc. This will reduce the risks of you getting sick. Some people make the mistake of only washing their hands after using the restroom, and they (usually) get sick more often.

 

 

I hope this little list helps you during this season, and I'm so sorry I'm pretty late. Well, you can have this for any future years as well. If you have any more tips, please feel free to write them as a response, as I would love to have some more tips myself, and I'm sure others reading this would as well. Have a great day!

[Melody]

Smart idea for a thread! Not sure why anyone would want to get sick (theres tons of people here like that), but to each their own I guess.

[Luisa39]

Good list.  I would add "get plenty of sleep and take vitamin C."

[TouchOfGrey]

I never get sick. Like, not even once a year. I eat raw garlic, turmeric, a lot of spicy foods and citrus fruits like lemons and limes. Not sure if there is any ccorrelation but it works for me. 

[D-DOG]

Going to the gym or doing sports in general can prevent illness too. ?

[Sitruuna]

Blowing your nose forces snot up into your sinus cavities. Contrary to what I was told as a kid kind of... Snorting it back..? Doesn't. Apparently that'sthe "natural direction", lol. Said some professional in some interview a few years ago.

 

Anyway. More generic tips:

1) Eat well. Basic and simple. And by well I mean eat enough and eat various different things, loads of vegetables... You want to get all sorts of vitamins, not just vitamin C. If you live in an area where there's little sunlight of you don't spend much time outdoors remember to also make sure you are getting enough vitamin D.

2) Excercise enough. The pros say that being in a good physical condition makes your immune system stronger. Stay active but avoid overworking your body as that will make your immune system crash and you'll definitely get sick.

3) Sleep. Rest. Check what I said in the previous point. Your bosy needs sleep to unwind and to relax. If you don't sleep your body and your mind will be under a lot of stress which is bad for your immune system.

This one is a bit different and relevant only when you are already sick but it definitely affects the future so 4) avoid (unnecessary) antibiotics. Antibiotics do not target just the "bad" bacteria but also the good and will mess up with your body, especially if used a lot/often. This also applies to your food: don't eat meat from animals that have been pumped up with antibiotics "just in case" and then butchered before the medicine has time to leave the animal's system. 

And then of course 5) don't be TOO careful with the germs. Avoiding every germ like it caused the actual plague might help in that moment but your immune system needs exercise. The less contact you have with germs the less "experienced" your body gets at combatting them. Of course there's a line where this gets to the side of ubhealthy and inadvicable but I cannot determine that for you because it depends on so many variables.

And then there are people like me who sleep too little, eat terrible foods and generally just don't take care of themselves but get sick like... Maybe once every five years, lol

Edited January 31, 2017 by Sitruuna

[I love Alan Rickman]

10 hours ago, Luisa39 said:

Good list.  I would add "get plenty of sleep and take vitamin C."

Thank you. Yes, kiwis have quite a bit of vitamin C.

1 hour ago, Sitruuna said:

 And then there are people like me who sleep too little, eat terrible foods and generally just don't take care of themselves but get sick like... Maybe once every five years, lol

That's crazy!  I like your list, too. Definitely helpful

[March Hare]

13 hours ago, D-DOG said:

Going to the gym or doing sports in general can prevent illness too. ?

Exercise in general: yes. Going to the gym: possibly no.

Basically, you want to be where the viruses aren't (thick in the air). Gyms are supposed to be well-ventilated, but it's hard to ventilate well enough to not allow germs to thrive. Especially in the showers.

[March Hare]

11 hours ago, Sitruuna said:

This one is a bit different and relevant only when you are already sick but it definitely affects the future so 4) avoid (unnecessary) antibiotics. Antibiotics do not target just the "bad" bacteria but also the good and will mess up with your body, especially if used a lot/often. This also applies to your food: don't eat meat from animals that have been pumped up with antibiotics "just in case" and then butchered before the medicine has time to leave the animal's system. 

More specifically, antibiotics are targeted towards bacteria only. Using them to battle viruses doesn't help and will probably harm.

[Medowsweet]

Don't blow your nose?!  Ugh! I can't stand having gunk in my nose!!!