One of the deadliest times of year has quickly reached us – peak flew season. It’s time to put up some defenses and fight back. Washing your hands and covering your mouth are great basic tips, but if you really want to build an arsenal then follow these tips in your home.
1) Purchase an Air Purifier
Flu virus spores are constantly swirling around in the air you breathe. One of the primary reasons the flu virus spreads in the winter is the lack of fresh air. People move from one enclosed structure to another. The stagnant air further fuels the virus as it recycles throughout your home and thrives in the warm dry vents.
Look for an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Another great way to clean the air is with an Ionizer. Ionizer’s convert oxygen (o2) into an unstable o3 compound – as the o3 negatively charged ions float around the room they attach to the virus and pull it out of the air.
2) Disinfect Surfaces
Sure this may sounds like a no brainer, but disinfecting the RIGHT surfaces is most important. Spend a day tracking all of the different levers, appliances, doorknobs and counter-tops you touch. Make a list and then be sure to wipe down the surfaces at least once a day. According the Mayo Clinic, “…cold and flu germs have shown potential survival times ranging from a few minutes to 48 hours or more.”
Use an EPA registered disinfectant against viruses. Always follow the safety instructions provided on the bottle. Soap is effective at physically removing the germs, but it is not killing them in the process.
3) Wash Sheets
The flu is able to live especially long on porous materials, especially cotton. Your everyday items like towels, blankets and bed sheets are hotbeds for germs. If you allow them to remain moist for several hours they will become germ magnets. Make sure to immediately throw your wet linens into the washer or dryer. Be sure to wash your hands immediately after handling them. Most experts suggest washing your linens 3x as often as you would during the summer.
4) Increase Humidity
As the cold weather moves in the humidity in the air falls greatly. Cold weather causes the small water droplets of humidity to fall to the ground. The reduction in humidity allows the flu virus to survive longer and replicate easier.
One large study suggests that maintaining indoor relative humidity >40% will significantly reduce the infectivity of aerosolized virus. Go to your local hardware store and buy a hygrometer to measure your indoor humidity. Homes should be kept between 40-60% humidity. Your skin will also thank you!
Jordan Markuson is the Founder of Aqua Health Labs. He has been a nutritionist and entrepreneur for over 10 years. He is an activist supporting consumption of raw vegetables and eating only renewable, natural and organic foods. Jordan believes that based on all available scientific evidence, once food is cooked it loses the majority its important nutrients. He is very interested in marine based food because of the essential fatty acids the produce nowhere else on earth.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/expert-answers/infectious-disease/FAQ-20057907
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0057485
Jordan is a frequent content contributor to healthy living websites and publications, and is available for speaking engagements. Email [email protected] to learn more.
