In the Journal of the National Medical Association, Joyce M. Carter, states that hand washing decreases the risks of colds and flu. Alright, so our mother was spot on with this advice! Carter goes on to say in her article that when we wash our hands we should remember to do the following:
- Use warm water
- Lather thoroughly for 10 to 15 seconds
- Wash between the fingers, fingernails, palms and about 1 inch of your wrist
- Blot with paper towel
- Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door
Per the CDC, hand washing reduces the risk of diarrhea by 31% as well as respiratory illness by 21%. We use our hands to touch our face, eyes, mouth and even other people, so let’s make sure we are protected by washing out hands. Also, make sure to have hand sanitizer in your purse so you can use in a pinch. You want a hand sanitizer that doesn’t contain alcohol or other toxic perfumes or ingredients that dry out your skin. Instead of the store bought options, try making your own with this recipe!
Here’s the Hand Sanitizer Recipe. In a 2 ounce bottle (preferably glass) combine the following:
3 tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel
1 tablespoon of filtered water
1/8 teaspoon of Vitamin E oil
8 drops of therapeutic-grade essential oil (Thieves, Lemon and Peppermint are good choices)