4 Easy & Smart Ways to Stay Healthy This December!

Everybody loves winter, especially December. This holiday period makes us feel really cheerful. But I think many of us have missed the joy of this festive season at least once due to falling ill right into middle of December. This is quite common & it happens due to climate change & other factors. But there are certain easy ways you can follow to stay healthy not only in December but also the entire winter. So here are some of these ways:

1. Spice it up
You might dust off the allspice only for holiday baking, but now there's a reason to use it year-round off: it could help protect against food-borne diseases. Scientists at the USDA have discovered that when added to tomatoes, allspice essential oils halted the production and growth of E. coli arid salmonella, two forms of bacteria that can make you sick (think nausea, vomiting, and possibly worse) if you're exposed to it in food. While these oils are found mostly at specialty stores (like organicinfusions.com), the researchers note that dried spices can have similar healthful effects, not only in tomatoes but also in meat and other ingredients. Add allspice liberally to burgers, veggies, and marinades for pizzazz and peace of mind.

2. Gargle germs away
Gum disease, which affects up to 80 percent of adults, can travel through the blood to other parts of your body, leading to serious ailments if left unchecked-like diabetes, pneumonia, and heart disease. But simply
rinsing with Listerine can kill bacteria in your mouth before it bombards the rest of you, according to new research from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. People with mild to moderate gingivitis, a swelling of the gums that's an early stage of gum disease, swished the mouthwash (which has been shown to penetrate plaque better than other brands) for 30 seconds twice a day. After two weeks, bacteria in their bloodstream had decreased b about 70 percent. Since mild gingivitis can be hard to spot, get gargling- just in case.

3. Take another shot at fighting flu
You meant to do it earlier this year. We know well, it's not too late to get your flu shot. In fact, flu activity generally peaks in January, and the vaccine is
usually available through
February. Just go to find a flu shot .com and type in your zip code to locate a drugstore or other provider offering it near you- especially if you're pregnant or you look after kids, the sick, or the elderly at work or at home.

4. Put yourself in a good mood
Need to feel better-fast? Read all about it. Seeing positive words activates the smile muscles in your face and may even boost your mood, according to a study in Psychological Science. Researchers found that verbs that spell happiness, such as grin and laugh, activated the facial muscles corresponding to those actions: negative words had the opposite effect. So bookmark the smile entry at Thesaurus.com and click on it next time you need a quick picker-upper.

So now get ready to enjoy a healthy December. Happy Holidayz!