Recently, there has been a surge of disease across the world, more notably in the United States. Students have been missing many school days, hospitals have been full of emergency visits, and the numbers for both are only rising. With how contagious it can be, it’s more important than ever to make sure students and their peers are healthy. To ensure this, there are many steps students can take to remain disease free.
Eating greens is a good way to boost the immune system. Plants composed of mostly leaves, much like the ones of the cruciferous family. Plants in this family are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. Eating these can grant their bodies essential vitamins.
Speaking of vitamins, vitamin D can do wonders for their immune systems. It also helps bone growth and heart health. The sun is the best provider of this vitamin, so going outside is a good choice if student wish to stay healthy. A few other sources would be things like milk products, mushrooms, oily fish, and eggs.
“I take medicine regularly, visit the doctor, and rest well,” Freshman Lexi Lamb.
Now that they’re outside, it’s smart to stay active and keep moving. Going for walks three times a week keeps their bodies healthy, while also keeping their minds in a good state. Stress is a major leading cause of a weak immune system, so keeping every aspect of themselves in shape is a must to stay sick free. Exercise also keeps their hearts in good shape, which allows better circulation of vital white blood cells that help fight off disease.
All that exercise gets people tired, and sleep is another great way of keeping them away from the flu. According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, getting adequate sleep is vital to stay lively. Eight hours of sleep is the recommended amount for the average person, as people with less have been shown to be more prone to sickness.
“I avoid contact with people, and I make sure things are wiped down,” said Junior Mariah Allison
In the morning, to help wake up, students can drink green tea. All throughout history, green tea has been known to provide good health to those who drink it, and it still holds today. Green tea has high levels of antioxidants, and overall is a calming beverage to drink, which can provide a multitude of bonuses to the body.
The best way to fight illness is to prevent it from happening. If students follow these tips, rates of students becoming sick will go down. And once flu season comes to an end, students will be happy knowing that they got through it without a sick day being used.
