I am mindlessly surfing this morning and found this article:  "Secrets of People Who Never Seem to Get Sick."   So I fired it up.  We had the good habits QOTD this week, and to me, this goes right along with that.

So, what does this article say that healthy people are doing?

1.  Get a massage.   Most studies show that massage can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate—and lowering these is likely to cause your stress level to drop, one key to building immunity.   I adore getting a massage,   It's paying for them that the wallet isn't so fond of.  

2.  Take a cold shower.  Devotees claim cold showers help with low energy, migraines, circulation, and pain reduction.  Um, thanks anyway. 

3.  Take ginger.  For centuries, ginger has been the go-to root for a wide range of gastrointestinal distresses, including constipation. Researchers believe its compounds stimulate digestive secretions, improve intestinal muscle tone, and help move food through the gastrointestinal tract.   I have never tried it. 

4.  Wash your hands.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand-washing is the number-one action you can take to dodge the 1 billion colds Americans come down with annually (not to mention the bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, that cause foodborne illnesses).  I wash my hands constantly.  They stay cracking dry because of it, but I am a hand washing addict.   I have been at work for 4 hours and washed them 3 times already. 

5.  Take Vitamin C and Zinc.  Although vitamin C and zinc for cold prevention remain controversial, some studies show that C is helpful —especially for people who are under extreme stress—and that zinc can prevent viruses from multiplying.  I have taken Vitamin C before, but not regular for a consistant amount of time.   I eat a lot of oranges and grapefruits and tend to think I get enough C fresh from those. 

6.  Eat more garlic.  Garlic is rich in antioxidants that boost immunity and fight inflammation, says Carmia Borek, PhD, research professor in the department of public health and family medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. That means the herb, in addition to boosting defenses against everyday illness, probably helps to stave off cancer and boost heart health.   I loved seeing this one.   I always have fresh garlic on hand and mince it up and add it to almost everything I cook.   Love it. 

7.  Stay positive.  In one study, participants who had heightened activity in a region of the brain associated with a positive attitude produced greater amounts of flu antibodies.   Hmmm, I guess I am positive enough.   I rarely, rarely get sick.   My kids are almost never sick either.