If you're rarely ill, tell me what you do to stay healthy

[Lottapianos]

I lead a pretty healthy lifestyle, I think. I eat plenty of fruit and veg and cook from scratch virtually every day, drink plenty of water, exercise and generally get enough sleep. I do suffer from depression but not currently. I'm now fighting my third bug in about 6 weeks and I'm sick to death of feeling crappy.

If you're one of those lucky people who are rarely ill, please share your tips and suggestions- I'm so sick of being full of snot!

I very rarely get ill despite eating unhealthily and being very overweight. I think the last time I had a bad cold was around 2010 ! I rarely get tummy bugs and have never had flu in my life. I put it down to the fact that I have always worked in hospitals and have built up a good immune system. I do have aches and pains and a bad back but I think just age related/ menopause related.

I think probably the biggest factor is not being obsessed with hygiene

Agree with this an other than that I think it is just luck/genes.

Same as @Shutuptodd so must just be luck 😁

Lots of studies have shown that the majority of your immune system is in your gut. Try a good probiotic. You can make your own keffir and sauerkraut which are full of friendly bacteria, or buy a probiotic from a health food shop; one that is kept in the fridge is better.

Also wash your hands with soap and water every time you have been outside (so when you arrive in work, when you arrive home, when you get back from the supermarket etc.)

There's evidence to suggest that a major part of a person's gut microbiome is inherited from their mother during birth and breastfeeding; this might account for all the people who think healthiness is genetic. Even if you didn't inherit a good microbiome you can still work on building your own. Fecal transplants are an extreme measure, there was an article about a man who did this for his ill wife using a blender and home enema kit... But most people can improve their gut health with diet, supplements and good hand washing habits.

I get a few colds each year - normally in December /January and I think farifue/ stress has a part to play in that.

Never seem to get stomach bugs. Have only been sick (vomiting) a handful of times. I'm vegetarian, don't know if that's a factor?

*fatigue not farifue!

Interesting stuff about microbiomes. Thanks for sharing

Tilikum, good call about the probiotic. Will investigate, thanks

The biggest big deal is hand hygiene.

All viruses including colds, flus, norovirus can be contracted by touching something that infected people have touched (e.g. a computer, a shopping trolley, a lift button, the post) and then either ingesting the particles (for things like stomach bugs) or rubbing your eyes/nose (for things like colds and flu). If you wash your hands after handling things that other people have touched (e.g. after touching the computer at work) before eating or touching your face then you're much less likely to get ill.

Boots also sell anti-viral sanitizers, which you can use when you don't have access to soap and water.

I think with me it's part luck and genetics, my Mum Is rarely ill . As kids we would have the usual bugs and she never caught them, I'm the same now. Though when I do get a bug I'm usually quite unwell with it.

I'm outside a lot too and go for a run or walk most days which I think helps.

I maybe get ill once a year but I think it's just luck... I smoke socially and drink too much (23 yo) and don't go to the gym.
I do eat a very healthy and, importantly, varied diet which probs contributes. I try and get at least 5 types of veg in every meal and eat v little processed food. I take probiotics too 🤷‍♀️

I also bite my nails which is bad for bugs

Black, which probiotic do you take?

I think I am going to echo the PPs who work in a school! I do too and rarely get ill even though my diet is poor and I drink too much

Aside from this I am a single mum so it sounds odd but if I am ill I can’t afford to be so just crack on! Maybe it’s just sheer will!😂

I’m very rarely ill. I have a good diet (pretty much vegan but well balanced, I an however a bit underweight, I smoke and I probably drink more than the advised weekly units of alcohol.

I did however spend my first eight years in Pakistan, so I have guts of steel.

Honestly, for me- luck.
I eat a crappy diet, am overweight, drink too much and am in the process of quitting smoking. I've not been ill, bar colds etc, since I was a child.

Honestly, by my age I'm beginning to believe it's genetic. My dad's side in particular has a definite tendency for longevity despite not being very 'healthy' and for much of adult life engaging in many downright unhealthy behaviours. My mother's side is similar, except they tend to last till their 80s v. 90s with my father's side. No dementia, either.

I thank my genes! Very rare for any female in the family to die before 90! DGM was 104 - she never exercised, ate crap, drank heavily and smoked. She also never stressed over anything!

I'm rarely ill, so am a totally crap patient. I don't do anything particular to keep healthy. I'm fat, I eat reasonably well but have a serious chocolate and ice cream habit. I don't exercise if I can avoid it, but am on my feet all day at work. I get the occasional cold.

That said, I have no thyroid, so feel a bit crap most days. DM was a teacher, so I was exposed to a lot of germs as a child. I now work in a hospital (not HCP) so am exposed to a fair amount of bugs, but I've only had one cold in the 18 months since I started working there. Both my adult DC catch anything that's going.

I worked with children for 25 years. My immune system is amazing.

Luck I think in the main, although I was brought up very rurally and always mucking about in rivers, playing outdoors etc and we ate home grown veg and some of our fruit was home grown too. Water was from a well (no mains supply). Never, ever saw anything remotely "antibacterial" or "sanitising" - just soap and water so I assume that my immune system is strong as a result. As an adult I have mostly worked in a healthcare environment, although do not any longer. I have always done loads of exercise, drink rarely and have never smoked.

I have never (touch wood!) been prescribed antibiotics for anything or been to my GP for being "ill" although have had a number of physical injuries so have been to my GP and hospital a few times for those. I do occasionally get the odd cold (which floors me as I am not used to being ill!).

I'm barely ever ill. My 10y/o daughter has never had a day off school in her life.

I think much of it is down to luck. We're just disgustingly healthy people. My daughter is supremely fit (gymnast and dancer) but I'm not. No special diet, no supplements, nothing eally. I never use anti-bac hand stuff at home, and rarely use anti-bac spray etc. (totally different at work as I'm an HCP, so of course observe hand hygiene rules and maintain sterile practices). But at home I clean surfaces normally and rarely bother with bleach etc.

I rarely get ill, or catch"the bug that's going around" , get flu, coughs, colds, headaches, stomach upsets etc. I do try to eat healthily, could exercise more but I think I have a really good immune system (refuse flu jabs because I don't want to compromise my immune system !) I worked in schools for years and years and I think that has helped to build up my immunity, thousands of small children getting up close and personal with their grubby hands, sneezes and snotty noses must have armed my immune system with weapons of mass destruction for bugs .

I think it's down to genetics. All my life I have been rarely ill and my two children so far are rarely ill either (and they aren't great for eating veg). I wouldn't be obsessive about bleaching etc and my mother wouldn't have been either.

I do tend to put on weight easily though so I was trained from a young enough age to watch what I eat ( turns out I've an underactive thyroid) but I still wouldn't eat loads of fruit and veg.

I agree with genes.

DH and I had very similar upbringings in terms of diet and getting mucky. We eat 75% the same food and exercise a similar amount. I am far more likely to get a virus than he is.