Cold Prevention

10 Ways to Beat a Cold

From the Million Dollar Body Club - Join Today and Workout to Win!

Allison Garwood is a Web Graphic Designer at Beachbody and hasn't had a cold in over two years. During this time, she changed cities and spent time in both Africa and Thailand. Here's how she did it.

1. Take a good multivitamin. Do your research. Ask your doctor what you need and how much, and then compare ingredients. The best can be expensive, but I think it's worth it. I'm a very cheap person normally, but when it comes to my health, I will pay for good vitamins.
   
2. Stay rested. Never blow off rest, especially when the weather starts changing. While on a mission trip in Africa, my whole group seemed a little unimpressed with the amount of resting and napping I did compared to them. Guess what? I was the only one who didn't get sick.
   
3. Stay warm. Avoid getting chilled for prolonged periods of time. Take a sweater with you, even if the weather is nice or if you think you might be in heavy air conditioning. The weather is a little unpredictable in California, especially in San Francisco (where I used to live), so I have become accustomed to taking a cardigan everywhere. If I get cold at work and don't have a sweater at hand . . . well . . . I'll raid wardrobe (shhh!). When that's not an option, I will drink herbal tea or plain hot water with a little lemon.
   
4. Brush at least twice per day. Floss daily. The fewer germs in your mouth, the fewer germs that can get you sick!
   
5. Eat right. Whatever your eating habits, make sure you are getting a good amount of fruits, veggies, protein, and iron in your diet. If you feel like you're getting sick, eat a steak and some peas. It works, man. I'm no saint. I love cheesecake, and all kinds of other foods that our trainers would hate. However, I eat them in moderate portions, and I make sure I also get good food like fresh veggies. When I snack, I'll microwave some edamame (soybeans—usually found in the freezer or sushi section of the grocery store) or some mixed frozen veggies. People at work make fun of me, but I have yet to take a sick day!
   
6. Drink a lot of water. Try and get at least 64 ounces per day down the hatch. That's eight eight-ounce glasses or two 32-ounce bottles. This will help keep you hydrated, which keeps you healthy, and also flushes toxins out of your system.
   
7. Stay regular. Speaking of flushing toxins out of your system . . . do whatever it takes—tea, prunes, fiber muffins . . . just do it.
   
8. Wash your hands. And wash them with soap! Every time you use the restroom.
   
9. Never eat or drink after anyone. Don't share a cup a fork or anything else. No matter how clean your eating partners seem, their germs are different than yours and your body isn't used to them. I learned about this one in college, and I got sick a lot less than my friends.
   
10. EXERCISE! I exercise very regularly because our videos make it really easy and there is no commute time to our gym. When I'm not here, I exercise anyway. Even if I don't want to. I feel so strong and I think it helps my body fight germs.
    

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