immune system and a
healthier life.
those who didn’t exercise,”
Nieman says.
1. Get a move on.
Exercise is “the single most
important thing you can do to
reduce sick days,” says David
Nieman, DrPH, director of
the Human Performance Lab
at Appalachian State
University.
Can’t carve out a half-hour or
longer block in your day?
Divvy your exercise up into
shorter sessions. “As long as
each activity is at least 10
minutes you’ll reap the
benefits,” Nieman says.
Although scientists aren’t
really sure why, research
suggests that
consistent exercise gives your
immune system a boost. It
might be that moderate heartpumping workouts spark a
rise in the germ-fighting cells
in your body -- or that they
lower stress hormones that
can dampen your body's
defenses.
You don’t have to live at the
gym to get these perks,
either. “People who exercise
for 30 to 60 minutes most
days of the week have a 46%
reduction in the number of
days of illness compared with
Joy feelings magazine
2. Wash your hands -- a lot.
Kelly Baez, a health
and weight-loss coach in
Columbus, GA, claims she
never gets sick. Part of her
stay-healthy MO? The stash
of hand sanitizer she keeps in
her gym bag to use between
hand-washings.
And for good reason: Your
fingertips are home to some
serious bacteria, and research
suggests you touch your face
-- mouth, eyes, nose -- about
16 times an hour. To keep
those germs at bay, wash
your hands often with soap
and warm water for at least
20 seconds, the CDC says.
Hand sanitizer doesn’t get rid
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