Prevent the flu with these home remedies

The flu is serious business. According to the Mayo Clinic News Network, up to 40,000 Americans die from flu annually. An additional 250,000 people are hospitalized.
To protect yourself, it is important to receive the flu shot. In addition, there are a number of home remedies you can adopt to protect you and your family against not just the flu, but also a host of other ailments this winter.
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1. Disinfect surfaces
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, explains disinfecting is the only way to kill germs. Cleaning and sanitizing only reduce the number of germs or remove them from a surface. It is recommended to use an EPA-registered disinfectant to kill germs on surfaces and objects that are touched often, such as doorknobs, computer keyboards, countertops, and phones.
2. Drink tea
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Try drinking tea all winter. This is because the steam stimulates the hairs in the noise that move germs out of the nose. Ear, nose, and throat specialist at Cedar-Sinai Hospital Dr. Murray Grossman recommends adding lemon to thin mucus and honey as an anti-bacterial.
3. Wash your hands regularly
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In addition to disinfecting surfaces, make sure to regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Be sure to do this for at least 20 seconds. While this may sound very basic, doing so will prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. This is not only preventive but will also stop your flu from spreading to loved ones.
4. Eight hours sleep
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Prevention reports a study by Carnegie Mellon that found people who sleep 8 hours a night are 30 per cent less likely than those who sleep just one hour less to get sick.
5. Vegetable juice
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A nutritious diet is key to maintaining a high-functioning immune system. This is why paramedic Kristina Economou told Health.com her secret for staying healthy during flu season is starting each morning with a juice made from such nutritious vegetables as kale, broccoli, apple, arugula, parsley, cucumber, carrots, Swiss chard, lemon, and mint.
6. Meditate
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A study by the University of Wisconsin found that daily meditation reduced a person's risk of illness by 40 to 50 per cent. ABC News explains this is because meditation reduces the immune system-weakening effects of stress.
7. Garlic
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Eating garlic helps fight viruses, Dr. Richard Nahas, assistant professor of family medicine at University of Ottawa told ABC News. For best results, it is recommended to eat 2 cloves raw garlic daily.
8. Turn on the humidifier
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To ease any coughs or congestion, turning on the humidifier will help. This will ensure there's adequate moisture and the air in your home doesn't get too dry.
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RemedyDaily.com does not give medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.