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It is that time of year when the Flu is flourishing in the workplace, classrooms, hospitals, and homes. The influenza virus differs from the common cold in the sudden onset of symptoms. These are severe headaches, fever, chills, muscle aches and sometimes, nausea and diarrhea. The following are some strategies to stay healthier, this flu season.

Get the flu shot. There are three types of flu. However, the type A virus is constantly changing which tricks the body into believing that it is fighting a new virus. The flu shot is the best line of defense in fighting the flu which is most prevalent.

Stay home when ill. Even though the common mode of thought is to drag our bodies to work when we are sick, it is not necessarily the best mode of thought. Studies have shown that sick and ill workers actually reduce productivity which costs the company money, not to mention the inconvenience to other workers who are infected. Use your sick time.

Wash your hands frequently. The key to removing germs, which could spread infection, is soap, water and friction. Wash your hands briskly and frequently. Keep a hand sanitizer on your person or near you, when a restroom is not readily available.

Eat yogurt or take a supplement containing probiotics. Probiotics are nature's friendly germs. A large percentage of immune cells, that ward off disease, live in our digestive tract. Keeping a larger percentage of probiotics or beneficial bacteria to harmful bacteria in our intestines helps to ward off colds and flu.

Hydrate your environment, inside and out. Keep a few bowls of warm water around your house to increase moisture inside your house. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. A lack of adequate hydration lowers the immune system making you susceptible to colds and flu. Drink tap, purified or spring water. Distilled water contains no minerals.

Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. Colorful berries provide a natural mix of antioxidants. Orange vegetables are a great source of beta-carotene. Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C. Thinking in terms of a rainbow of color, of different fruits and vegetables, will ensure that you get the vitamins necessary for good health.

Make sure to get adequate sleep. The average American subsists on two hours less sleep, a night, than our ancestors. Studies suggest that most of us require a little more than eight hours of sleep a night. Lack of adequate sleep causes our bodies to produce fewer antibodies, resulting in a lower immune system. Adequate sleep is crucial to good health.

Have a regular exercise regimen. Moderate exercise, thirty to sixty minutes, three times a week helps boost immunity. An exhaustive workout can suppress the immune system for the short term. Find an exercise regimen that works for you.

All of these strategies will help you to live a healthier life, as well as provide protection against the flu. Try and make these strategies a part of your everyday life and you should be rewarded with less colds and flu when the flu season hits.