While germs are undeniably always around us, hand hygiene is key to helping reduce the risk of colds and viruses.  It’s simple, but often overlooked—the most important thing one can do in the face of colds and flus is to avoid getting them in the first place.  Keep hands clean, particularly during this time of year.  Don’t touch your face, especially your lips, mouth, and ears, unless they’re clean.  We often unconsciously touch our faces ‎and by doing so, viruses can enter our bodies and make us sick.

Washing your hands before eating and proactively cleaning surfaces that you often touch like cell phones, computer keyboards and door handles is imperative.  We should all be vigilant about keeping our hands and surroundings clean so that we can collectively help reduce the spread of germs.

If you happen to come down with a cold, over-the-counter products may support your immune system to clear the infection.  There is a wide range of supplements available in most drug and vitamin stores.

A new product my group has developed is called the EZC Pak.  The EZC Pak is a 5-day tapered immune support pack composed of Echinacea, Zinc, and Vitamin C, designed to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and use.  Research shows that these three components support the immune system. The EZC Pak is composed of the green E capsule, made of certified organic Echinacea and the tan ZC capsule, made of zinc and vitamin C.  EZC is taken more frequently in the beginning and then tapered off as your immune system mounts a response.

It’s a new year and the perfect time to embrace healthier hygiene habits.  Start by keeping your hands clean and the rest of your body will thank you.  For more information on the EZC Pak, please visit us at ezcpak.com.

Article Bio:

Sarath Malepati, MD is the Founder and Medical Director of the PPC Group, a California-based health product design team focused on improving knowledge transfer between clinicians and patients through the design of simple solutions for common health care problems.  Dr. Malepati’s current project is the EZC Pak, the first physician formulated 5-day immune support pack designed to relieve patient pressure for antibiotics when deemed medically unnecessary and reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing patterns.  More information on Dr. Malepati’s work can be found at: ezcpak.com 

The post Hand Hygiene, A Must for Beating Cold Viruses This Season appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

We’re nearing that time of year again—the dreaded cold and flu season. This year you can be prepared to take control and keep illness at bay by following these easy tips. With seven children of my own I know the flu, or even a cold, can wreak havoc on a child’s immune system, and if you have multiple children in your home then you know full well how quickly illness can spread from one child to another. Follow these easy tips to help your family stay happy and healthy:

1. Stay Clean: The single, most important thing you can do is wash your hands as often as possible, with soap and hot water.  If you do not have soap and hot water available then keep a tube of hand sanitizer in your Daddy Diaper Pack, glove box, or briefcase. As well, require your children to wash their hands a lot. Furthermore, if you have visitors in your home ask them to wash their hands immediately upon entering – prior to interacting with your children.  Germs are easily spread, and they are much more prevalent and dangerous than you may think.  If your kids are older teach them to keep their hands away from eyes, mouths, and faces in order to lessen the chance of spreading germs. Additionally it’s very important to keep household surfaces clean by washing them regularly with a disinfectant spray.

2. Strive for Health: All parents strive to keep their children healthy, but during cold and flu season it’s more important than ever to focus on health! Remember to eat well, drink fluids, get plenty of rest and to exercise, too! In our house we rely on the crockpot during the winter months; crockpot meals are easy to prepare, easy to clean up and you can make them very nutritious with plenty of vegetables. So warm your bellies with a hearty meal and head to bed early – and don’t forget to exercise!

3. Quarantine (if you must): Okay, so this may be overkill.  You don’t really need to quarantine your healthy child, but what I do suggest is to refrain from sharing food and drink with family and friends and to stay away from other children who are showing signs of illness.  Washing toys that are handled often and by multiple children is very important. And make sure to also wash anything your child takes back and forth between school and home. Don’t be afraid to ask a parent with a sniffling or coughing child if they’re ill; you’re just doing your best as a parent to keep your own child healthy.

Do your best to take all of these protective measures and hopefully you are able to keep your child and family sickness-free this cold and flu season. Good luck!

Sincerely,

DaddyNickell

Parenting Expert and father of 7, Robert Nickell (aka Daddy Nickell) offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddy & Co., delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel for every stage of fatherhood, and the Daily Daddy Blog.  He is also the creator and producer of “My Life as a Dad,” the groundbreaking new web series that showcases celebrity fathers offering their personal experiences and parenting tips.

The post Don’t Let the Flu Catch You appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.