Here's how to avoid the flu and many other illnesses each year:
Beginning Oct. 15th each year, until May 15th the following year, we stop eating out, even if we are treated to it because many sick folks are too sick to cook, but not too sick to go out. (I'll never figure that one out, but it's true according to one restaurant owner and his staff.)
We do not drink a lot of fruit juices because it sets us up for a systemic yeast infection without plenty of sunlight and activity available, and because we live in a moist region which feeds yeast/molds which lower the immune system.
We drink much more hot herbal teas and water than milk-based drinks.
When able to purchase, I choose only frozen, low-salt canned, and only very few prepackaged fresh veggies to minimize picking up the uncovered ones coughed on/handled by inconsiderate sick folks and/or their children, or sick employees during flu season.
I seldom purchase anything unpackaged during this time for the same reasons.
We also begin longer handwashing with stronger antibacterial liquid soap if we can afford it, after using bathroom, before entering the kitchen, and before touching our food. Should we have plastic/paper goods to use, it helps to prevent recycling and sharing whatever flu germs might be lurking about. Many bacteria, virus and mutants live longer outside the body than we have been told.
We "pass" on eating anyone else's food, unless as a last resort, because few folks think about the "contagion factor" when cooking and sharing food at holidays.
We have been sick very little since practicing the following additional habits we were taught:
Avoiding anyone who is obviously coughing, sneezing, wheezing, snorting; even if they claim it is only "allergies", especially the checkout clerks who handle money, deal exclusively with the multitudes in public, and then handle purchases. Also avoiding the sackers who have to go out in all sorts of weather and are often ill. Avoid any direct contact with those diagnosed with infection/taking RX meds. Although they may be improving, they may be carriers of the contagion long after becoming well.
We are considerate of others should this ever happen to us, by affording them the same consideration as we would expec from them.
We do not save sacks from purchases during this time period because most germs land on horizontal surfaces where the sacks are placed for loading purchases.
We use rubber gloves to sanitize surfaces during and after someone is ill.
We do not share dishes, confining anyone ill to their special dish set, boiled or disposable until well.
We provide a package of tissue and a wastesack nearby for all who might have a cough, runny nose, fever, vomiting; requesting they dispose of their own used papers, tossing sack daily.
We learn what sensitivities we have and avoid them during this time especially, to give our body's immune system every advantage to do it's protecting against illness as designed. We avoid spray "disinfectants" because the propellant is often Formaldehyde (a poison used for embalming the dead, which has killed many itself.)
We teach children to cough as often as possible within a large plastic sack to contain the spray of their germs rather than to let it go into the air, onto the floor, surfaces and others.
Like hospitals, we keep a lot of cold water bottles available to keep liquids flowing through the sick person to eliminate the medications which are usually constipating.
We place the sick person(s) in the quietest and easiest to clean area of the house to allow for best recouperation/isolation from well people, spreading a plastic dropcloth on the floor by the bed, should there be lots of coughing.
We use all solid white THIN multilayered linens for hot sanitizing and changing every other day, as well as white bed clothes where possible.
The person sanitizing is careful to wear gloves and mask, if available, paying attention to toilet, tub, washer, linens, water, med bottles on papertowel covered tray, and any phone sanitizing if nearby/used by the patient.
Several things we had to relearn: One cannot be too clean during these times, nor too careful, and should move slowly so as to avoid accidents. Dishwasher water is not hot enough to kill most harmful germs, only "household" germs, unless stainless steel interior and extra high heat "sanitation setting" is available.
Also, never give medication to a patient on an empty stomach, but, rather, with crackers or something which absorbs and protects the stomach lining. Coated "over the counter" meds often still cause nausea on an empty stomach.
Lastly, if the patient is a sick child, avoid contact with any stuffed animals you intend to keep because their fleece cannot be adequately sanitized to prevent recontamination later on.
Keep noise at a low level, remembering that the patient needs quiet and prayer for the quickest recovery. God bless and keep you, too.
By Lynda from TX
I am sure you mean well, but you seem like a bit extreme. That sounds worse than a hospital. I work at a doctors' office. Call me crazy, I guess. (10/24/2006)
By sandy63
This is more than over the top. I don't ever get ill although don't go to these extremes. It is all to do with your constitution etc. Sure be careful, but it sounds as if this rules your life. (10/24/2006)
Way too extreme. We are very rarely sick in our household! I wash my hands frequently. And if my husband gets the sniffles, I put up a separate handtowel for him and that's all it seems to take to keep it at bay from one another. Super simple. (10/25/2006)
Horribly extreme. If you read the newest studies, you are setting any children in your house up for BIG time health problems in the future. Raise a kid in a 'sterile' environment and when they get to school, they'll get everything imaginable because Mom coddled them. No immunity built up.
You are doing everyone in your family a HUGE disservice doing all this. I would (nicely) actually recommend some professional help for you if what you've typed is true. Nothing personal, but it sounds like the actions/mind set of a troubled person. (10/25/2006)
By Tammy
Yes, too extreme for me. I use common sense and hand washing I think is one of the most important things. There's no way I wouldn't eat out for 7 months of the year. Maybe this is good advice for someone with a compromised immune system. I get many germs passed to me by my children. Not much I can do about that. I continue to take my daily vitamins and hope for the best.
(10/26/2006)
Wow. I can't imagine restricting my life this way, but I do know one thing for sure. In order to build up a resistance, you really do have to be exposed to these kinds of everyday germs! Here's how I know this. I lost my job due to Katrina and decided to take a few months off and signed up for a semester of college courses. This semester I took a full load but did it through distance learning online instead of real time classes, hoping to have found work by now. Anyway, since I've been more homebound the last year and I don't get around a lot of other people now, literally every time I go out, to the movies, a restaurant, shopping, or anywhere there is or has been exposure to a lot of people, I almost always come home feeling as if I'm coming down with something. I started using the Airborne product - which is really just vitamins and herbs - as soon as I come home and start feeling symptomatic, or sometimes even before I go out if I think about it. It's an effervescent tablet you dissolve in water, invented by a teacher, and yes, it really works. Sometimes it takes a few doses, but I love this stuff. You can find it at WalMart. (10/26/2006)
By Mary
Might as well go into fall/winter quarantine and isolation! A few sniffles is minor compared to the joy of sharing meals, company and being around other people during holidays...Unless you have a serious illness and are immuno-compromised you are missing out on many of life's pleasures for over half a year-no way to live! Lighten up! (10/29/2006)
By Linda
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