Cook'n is the best selling recipe organizer

I got a call from my son yesterday. He wanted to know how in just 18 hours he could go from feeling great, to having a bad cold. Good question.

When the thermometer goes down, cold and flu cases go up. Because the cold tends to send us into hibernation mode, any germs we may encounter get trapped inside our work-place, home, and of course, schools. Unlike the warm summer months when our windows and doors are open to let in the fresh air, winter finds us in "lock-down" mode: cold air outside and warm toasty heater running inside.

To keep all of us a little healthier, here are some ideas that will help keep those pesky cold and flu germs away.

Go Outside - No matter the weather, my mother was always telling my siblings and me to "go outside and play". Mom was right. Taking deep breaths of fresh air is good for our lungs. We are able to replace the stale air, with clean oxygen.

•  Go for a walk
•  Take your dog
•  Play with the kids
•  Make snow angels
•  Practice deep breathing. Inhale deeply to the count of 7, and then exhale to the count of 7. This will help rid your lungs of "stale" oxygen, and replace them with new.

Drink Water: Keeping the body hydrated properly will help the mucus membranes work properly and fight off viruses. Skip the soft drinks which actually dehydrate the body and go for the water.

Get Your Rest: Sleep deprivation stresses your body, which needs to rest from the tremendous amount of work it does to keep us going. Being rested will give our body the ammunition it needs to fight off the germs that want to invade it.

Exercise: Give your immune system its own work-out by having a body that can fight the good fight. With all of the holidays ahead, we will need all of the help we can get to rid ourselves of the extra calories we indulge in anyway.

Eat Healthy Foods: It goes without saying that healthy, "live" food strengthens our immune systems. Sugars, greasy foods, and processed foods, deplete it. As good as that holiday fudge may look, reach for some fruit or cut-up vegetables instead.

Wash, Wash, Wash your Hands: We hardly live in a sterile environment: just think of all of the things our hands touch during the day. Is it any wonder that germs spread? If you think about it, disinfect doorknobs, computers, bathrooms, kitchens. Keep a small bottle of liquid hand sanitizer or the small packets of hand wipes in your car and/or purse. Wash your hands frequently throughout the day.

Following these tips can help keep you and those you love on the pathway of health during the flu and cold season.

Make Your own Surface Spray Bleach

In spite of what manufacturers may tell you, making your own bleach spray is not rocket science.

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Bleach Water Recipe

Mix 1 Tablespoon of Bleach 1 Gallon of Cool Tap Water

For a smaller batch: Mix 1 teaspoon of Bleach 1 22oz spray bottle full of Cool Tap Water

Store in a cool darken place.