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10 Things That Will Prevent You From Getting Sick, Backed By Research

3 minute read
Ideas
Barker is the author of Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Look at pictures of sick people.

Via The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature:

Being exposed to photographs of individuals spreading their germs (e.g., via sneezing or coughing) is sufficient to elicit a boost in one’s immunological defense system.

It’s legit. Here’s the study he’s referring to:

An experiment (N = 28) tested the hypothesis that the mere visual perception of disease-connoting cues promotes a more aggressive immune response. Participants were exposed either to photographs depicting symptoms of infectious disease or to photographs depicting guns. After incubation with a model bacterial stimulus, participants’ white blood cells produced higher levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the infectious-disease condition, compared with the control (guns) condition. These results provide the first empirical evidence that visual perception of other people’s symptoms may cause the immune system to respond more aggressively to infection. Adaptive origins and functional implications are discussed.

Source: “Mere visual perception of other people’s disease symptoms facilitates a more aggressive immune response.” from Psychol Sci. 2010 May; 21(5):649-52. Epub 2010 Apr 2.

You looked at the picture above, right? Your immune system is already stronger. (You’re welcome.)

There are a number of other simple research-based tips for staying healthy and dodging illness:

  • A dog can be better for your health than a spouse. Doesn’t even need to be a real dog: Petting a stuffed dog has positive effects on the immune system.
  • Exercise boosts immunity.
  • Stress can make you sick so know what to do to reduce it.
  • Writing can improve your immune system and even speed the healing of wounds.
  • Get enough sleep. Seriously, sleep is a miracle cure. Yes, I know you’re a night owl. Fine, take a nap.
  • Get happy. Here’s how. Be optimistic. Stop being bitter.
  • If you’re going to be seriously ill, do it now, not in July and never over a weekend.
  • Go to a nice doctor because they’ll heal you faster.
  • I can give you a prescription that will reduce symptoms of illness, make other medication 4x as effective, improve strength in the gym and even increase libido… It’s called placebo. Did I ruin it by telling you it’s not a real drug? No, because placebos still work even when you know they’re placebos.
  • 7 Foods That Taste Better Now Than They Will All Year

    Kale
    Kale: The cold-weather king, bitter kale is made mellower by the bitter cold. It can thrive in temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, Casanova says.Getty Images
    Brussels sprouts
    Brussels sprouts: If you still think you hate Brussels sprouts, try them now. They're sweeter than summer sprouts, she says. (Failing that, of course, try frying them with bacon.)Getty Images
    Kohlrabi
    Kohlrabi: "Cabbage turnip" in German, this knotty, weird-looking root vegetable is a survivor. "Kohlrabi does not like hot summer temperatures at all, but thrives in cool weather," Casanova says. "Transplants can be put out six weeks before frost with an expected harvest in only a few short weeks."Getty Images
    Mustard greens
    Mustard greens: The peppery plant kicks its way through the winter, and always tastes sweeter when it's nipped by frost. Getty Images
    Parsnips
    Parsnips: Yes, even foods that aren't green can withstand the cold. The pale parsnip, which looks like a yellow-white carrot, is best harvested after a hard frost, Casanova says.Getty Images
    red cabbage
    Cabbage: It may look like a delicate flower, but some types of cabbage can survive temperatures as low as 26 degrees, Casanova says, making it ideal for a winter harvest.Getty Images
    collard greens
    Collards: "They grow best in full sun, tolerate partial shade, are rich in vitamins and sweetened by frost," she says.Getty Images

    This piece originally appeared on Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

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