Hygienic practices keep us healthy and prevent the spread of disease. Personal hygiene refers to maintaining the body’s cleanliness. What exactly does one have to do to keep oneself clean?
Washing hands with soap and water can reduce disease. If your hands are dirty and you touch your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth, you can fall ill. Most of us touch our faces often without knowing it. It is important to wash your hands for 20 seconds. 20 seconds is longer than you think. The next time you wash your hands, please time yourself and you will discover this for yourself. All surfaces of your hands need to be washed: the area between your fingers, the palm of your hand and even your wrist need to be thoroughly soaped. Remember to also keep your fingernails trimmed and clean. Please wash your hands in this way after you go to the bathroom, before and after you eat, and many times in between, as many times as you can.
Hand washing removes bacteria, parasites and viruses. It can prevent diarrhoea, typhoid and cholera. It also removes the Coronavirus that is causing severe problems in the population, especially in those who suffer from diabetes, hypertension and respiratory problems, such as asthma.
What are some other hygienic practices that we should maintain to prevent us and those around us from getting ill? When you cough or sneeze, please cough into your elbow or into a piece of cloth. Keep your house clean.
If you are running a fever and have a bad cold and cough, try not to go out. You might infect others if you do.
What is another thing you need to do to prevent getting ill? You need to build your immunity. When you have immunity, you can resist a particular disease, you can fight it off. How do you build your immunity? Eat vegetables and fruit. Wash off all the surface dirt first and then soak the fruit or vegetables for an hour in baking soda or potassium permanganate (pinkie), and rinse in drinking water before you eat them. Ginger and turmeric boost immunity. Have a little protein every day.
Sleep well and at regular hours. Exercise your body by going for a brisk walk. Develop hobbies that you enjoy and that destress you.
Meditate, breathe deeply, laugh often and spend time with your friends and family!
So many things that are good for us AND that make us happy are free!
Stay healthy and happy!
Please answer the following questions:
- What is personal hygiene?
- What is oral or dental hygiene?
- What did you learn about personal hygiene from this text?
- Are there any other aspects of personal hygiene you would like to talk about?
- What do YOU do to boost your immunity?
- What are your hobbies? Tell us a little bit about your favourite hobby?
- What do you do to destress?
- Name a few foods that contain protein?
- Do you get enough exercise?
- What do you do to get exercise?
Audio courtesy Tara Kriplani: