The season of traveling is approaching and with it, comes the exposure to germs and the possibility of getting the flu.  But there are a few simple hacks preppers have that they use to prevent the sickness.

Most preppers understand that getting sick can be a big deal with the risk of a global pandemic being a tangible threat. Here are a few hacks that will keep you healthy, and most of them won’t cost you much if anything to implement.

1. Eat Better – most preppers understand the importance of good nutrition. Eating right and maintaining a healthy body weight while staying in shape will obviously help boost your immune system keeping it tip-top shape to fight off viruses like the flu. Try to choose nutrient-dense vegetables and healthy fats with every meal.  Keep your processed food intake to a minimum and limit sugar.  Inadequate diets that are low in protein, too low in calories (less than 1,200), or contain too many processed or fast foods will lack all the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy immune system.
2. Get Enough Sleep – 70% of American adults report that they obtain insufficient sleep at least one night a month, and 11% report insufficient sleep every night. It’s well understood that sleep deprivation opens the door to a wide range of illnesses by weakening the body’s immune system, now and in the future. As a culture, we are becoming busier and chronically sleep-deprived and that can affect our body’s ability to fight off the flu or other viruses.  So get on a schedule and make sure you are getting enough sleep!
3. Change Your Bedding and hand Towels Often – having clean sheets may also help you get more sleep, so this one’s doubly important! Washing your sheets and towels will prevent the spread of germs.  Use hot water to launder them, and if you have white sheets or towels, bleaching may be appropriate.  Washing your linens will keep you healthier because it kills off a good amount of the germs lingering.
4. Sanitize Surfaces – Clean and sanitize the surfaces of your home at least once a week, and do so more often if someone in your home has been sick. The flu virus can live on hard surfaces for 24 hours! To make sure you’ve gotten the surface properly disinfected, use an antibacterial cleaner on key spots such as tabletops, countertops, remote controls, computer keyboards, doorknobs, sinks, light switches, faucet handles, sinks, countertop, tub and toilet (including the entire seat and the toilet handle). To disinfect a surface, wipe it so that the surface remains visibly wet for four minutes and then let it dry.”
5. Wash Hands Frequently – To prevent from getting the flu, wash your hands frequently, especially while traveling and around crowds of people. To kill the germs that cause the flu, wash your hands all over with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.  Everyone should get in the habit of washing their hands after using the bathroom or being in contact with the sick person. You should also wash your hands before eating, and before touching the eyes, nose or mouth as that’s usually how germs enter your body and get you sick!

Hopefully, with these inexpensive hacks, you can prevent yourself and family members from coming down with the flu this year.  Even though these things won’t necessarily eliminate the risk of getting sick, you will have a leg up when it comes to fighting the virus!