Cold and Flu season is in full swing. Trying to stay cold free is a balancing act. But it is possible to go this season sick free. Of course there is the recommended get enough sleep, and drink plenty of fluids but take your health regimen a step further to really fight the sickness blues. Here are some easy ways to keep you health happy.

Wash Your Hands
To help prevent cold and the flu, wash your hands whenever possible. This will eliminate build up of any germs. Keep a moisturizer close by and remember to always dry your hands.

Choose the Right Brands
When picking out a hand sanitizer make sure it contains at least 60% alcohol. Some brands put more water into the product but in order to be effective by the CDC, the product must meet the above requirements. Also stick to brands you know and trust. Sometimes when you buy new products the chemicals can have a reaction, which can sometimes cause you to feel even sicker.

Apply Moisturizer
Winter skin is harsh and dry. But using a daily moisturizer can help prevent you from having cracked skin. Pick a brand that you love so you enjoy the process of applying it.

Wear Sun Screen
Be skin smart and don’t even think about stepping outside with out sunscreen. When you layer on the sunscreen in the winter you protect yourself from the reflection of the sun.  The sun reflects of the snow and the wet ground, increasing the potential for UV damage. Make sure to protect your skin with a brand you trust and know.

Warm Up From the Inside Out
The chilly air brushes up against our skin and we are reminded it is winter. The cold air makes it hard to stay warm. A simple trick is to drink a warm beverage. Pick your favorite tea or coffee and sip on the warm treat. You will warm yourself from the inside out. Plus the warm beverage is good for our circulatory system. It will invigorate the blood flow helping you stay even warmer weather.

Drink Your Fruit
Trying to get more vitamins and antioxidants into your body is tricky during the winter months. Fruit and vegetables are packed with powerful nutrition but they aren’t always in season during the cold months. Frozen fruit, like blueberries and strawberries make great snacks. You can blend them with milk or water and make a fresh fruit smoothie. Drinking your fruit is a fun healthy way to get the nutrient you need to stay sick free. The more nutritious things we eat the healthy we will feel and be.

Shannon Kaiser is a health and wellness writer for many online and print publications. For more health tips TenderCare Dental, a Dentist in North Portland. This article was written by a guest author. Would you like to write for us?