insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 10 - December 2015 | Page 89

sip something lovely from the same cup (or bottle – your choice), but it’s going to end up in tears (and sneezes, and coughs…). Stay Away from People Well, as we said, not all of our top tips are going to be possible, but this is the time of year when people get together more than any other. It could be a planned event such as the office party, or it could just be that more commuters are taking the tube, train, or bus because it’s cold out there and walking isn’t much fun. Bodies in an enclosed, confined space will easily transmit the germs that go on to make us poorly, so staying away from these places is the best plan to keep healthy and hearty through winter. Wash Your Hands It’s a good rule for life anyway, but at this time of year, it’s even more important. Most infections are carried through the air, but there are some germs that prefer skin-to-skin contact, be it a handshake, hug, kiss, or anything else. And what do we like to do at Christmas? Shake hands, hug, kiss, and anything else; so, we get colds. But if everyone washed their hands more often throughout the day, and dried them thoroughly (preferably using paper towels), we’d all be a lot healthier. Herbal Remedies, Vitamins, and Probiotic Supplements There are some excellent herbal remedies, vitamins, and supplements that will boost the immune system and make it less susceptible to colds. Simply add some of these to your daily routine, and you’ll soon be feeling much better. Echinacea, for example, was traditionally used by Native Americans to heal wounds and prevent infection. Use it for six to eight weeks to allow it to do what it needs to do, but don’t use it long term since it will lose its effectiveness. Zinc and garlic are also both excellent ways to prevent catching a cold. They can be taken in pill form, or eaten (garlic as it is, and zinc in other foods such as seafood, eggs, and oysters). And of course, you mustn’t forget your vitamin C, which is famous for its immune sys FV