Try probiotics. A recent
study in the British Journal
of Nutrition showed that
stressed-out college students
who got these “good”
bacteria had fewer sick days
than those who didn’t. Even
if they did catch a bug, they
recovered faster. You can
get probiotics from foods like
yogurt -- look for “live and
active cultures” on the label - or take them as pills.
5. Get enough shut-eye.
Americans who said they had
very good or excellent health
and quality of life slept more
-- an average of 18 to 23
minutes per night -- than
those who rated their health
as good, fair, or poor,
according to the
National Sleep Foundation.
cold when they get the virus
compared to those who get 7
hours of sleep a night.
No surprise. Your immune
system needs sleep to keep
you healthy. How much?
Researchers found that
people who log less than 6
hours a night are about four
times more likely to catch a
Research suggests she’s on to
something. One study
showed that mindfulness
techniques like meditation
may cut your chances of
catching a cold. The
participants who practiced
Joy feelings magazine
If you can’t tame your inner
night owl, try this trick: Set
an alarm clockat night as a
reminder that it’s time to go
to bed.
6. Three, two, one, Ohm.
Jessica McFarland, a middleschool science teacher in
Philadelphia, comes in
contact with 145 13-year-olds
every day. “It’s a miracle that
I never get sick!” she says.
Among her stay-healthy
habits: She takes slow, deep
breaths whenever she begins
to feel stressed. If possible,
she takes a moment for a
mini meditation.
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