The John Tesh Blog

Ever wish you could be one of those people that never gets a cold or the flu – no matter how many germs they encounter? While I strive to be that type of person myself, it doesn't always work. So, I decided that in order to keep my immune system on the up-and-up, I should find out what all these extremely healthy people have in common. And, after doing some research, I found many of them took on all those germs with more than just hand sanitizer. Here's what I discovered can keep us healthy throughout the year:

• Stay positive. In one study, positive participants produced more flu antibodies. Even if you can’t always think positive, at least learn to be less negative. In other words, when you get sick, don’t dwell on your symptoms. And don’t assume the worst, like telling yourself, "Oh man! I always get sick this time of year!" Because negativity can slow the healing process.
• Get a monthly massage. Studies show it can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate. It also decreases the number of stress hormones in the bloodstream. And increases the activity level and number of the body's natural killer cells that fight against infections.
• Eat more garlic. It’s rich in immunity-boosting antioxidants and inflammation-fighters. Studies show that eating garlic boosts defenses against everyday illness, improves heart health, and may even help prevent cancer. If you’d like to avoid garlic breath, experts recommend aged-garlic extract. It’s odor-free, and contains more of the potent compounds that make garlic a superfood.
• Drink ginger tea. Researchers found that ginger helps speed up digestion, soothes upset stomachs, and stimulates the immune system to fight off infection. Your best bet is to cook with fresh ginger, or steep some chopped fresh ginger in hot water for 10 minutes to make tea.