Are you secretly envious of your co-workers and friends who, like superheroes, never seem to suffer from illnesses like colds and the flu?
Come to think of it, some studies have found a small population of people who don’t suffer from heart issues, stomach problems, or certain cancers, and use far fewer office sick days (or rather, use fewer sick days actually being sick).
So what’s their deal?
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We decided to look into what was making these people seemingly “immune” from the common sicknesses many of us face and found they share some common habits.
Here are a few easy-to-follow tips to steal from them:
1. They Wash Their Hands – Over and Over
Hand washing may sound like obvious advice for combating germs, but surveys suggest that most of us are not vigilant about washing our hands after using the restroom.
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To prevent illness, it’s important to wash your hands frequently.
During cold and flu season, wash your hands with soap many times during the day because you’re in contact with all kinds of pathogens — doorknobs, stair railings, and other people. You really want to have clean hands.
According to the CDC, proper handwashing for 20 seconds is the most effective way to avoid the 1 billion colds that Americans catch each year, not to mention other infectious diseases.
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2. They Take Cold Showers
A small body of scientific literature indicates exposure to cooler water may increase the body’s natural antioxidants.
It can feel uncomfortable to immerse our bodies in cold water, but it can also be invigorating.
That’s because water that’s colder than our natural body temperature causes the body to work slightly harder to maintain its core temperature.
When taken regularly, cold showers can make our circulatory system more efficient.
Some people also report that their skin looks better as a result of cold showers, probably because of better circulation.
Athletes have known this benefit for years, even if we have only recently seen data that supports cold water for healing after a sports injury.
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3. They Value Friendships
You might not think having a social network would count a much as diet and exercise when it comes to good health.
But studies have found that good, close friends can protect against everything from memory loss and heart attacks to infectious diseases.
We’re not talking about those life-long friends who always drain you, but those close friends who are like family that encourage you and support you.
Sociability increases self-esteem, which in turn, supports your immune system.
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4. They Sleep Well
It’s been shown that lack of sleep causes weight gain, leads to a compromised immune system and increases the production of cortisol, a hormone that triggers stress.
Sleep is one of the best ways to stay healthy.
People who get a solid eight hours per night absolutely do better.
Those who get into bed and fall asleep right away and stay asleep are more protected against colds than those who wake up repeatedly through the night.
A good night’s sleep will restore the immune system because when you get a good night’s sleep, melatonin levels rise and that improves immunity.
Best of all, there are no side effects.
The best time for a short snooze is between the hours of one and three in the afternoon.
5. They Control Their Stress
If you’re constantly frazzled, you’re at higher risk for everything from a heart attack to diabetes to colds to irritable bowel syndrome, or so researchers think.
Remember the old saying: stress can kill?
It’s true! It’s been proven: keep your stress down to live longer.
It’s been proven to not only weaken the immune system, it does damage on your internal organs as well. So your goal should be to manage stress in a healthy way. Work harder on controlling your responses to stressors through other activities like dancing, daily meditation, journaling, visualizations, and affirmations.”
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6. They Lift Weights
Regular weight training may reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, colon and breast cancer, depression and diabetes.
If you want to amp up your protection against sickness for the sake of not just you, but everyone around you, keep re-reading the tips we provided above. This advice will help you stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible—not just in the way of dodging sniffles, but by boosting your overall wellness and preventing chronic illness and disease.
