Do you like being sick? Enjoy that hacking cough? How about having your sinuses stuffed to the point it feels like someone put concrete in your head? Nobody likes being sick. Your first line of defense against illness is a simple one. Yes, you guessed correctly – wash your hands!

Our hands are the primary contact for the outside world. While things may brush against our skin here and there, our hands are the appendage we use to reach out and grab things. Think about it. What do you use to lift the toilet seat? How about pick up after you dog in the yard? Clean the bathroom? Work on your car? Now consider how often you raise your hands to your mouth. Pretty scary, eh?

Washing your hands is your first line of defense against virus, bacteria and general disease risks. Consider a simple example. MRSA is the new superbug that is scaring a lot of people. It is a form of staph infection that is resistant to antibiotics and kills thousands each and every year. Guess where it resides on the human body? A common spot is in your nose. How often do you move your hands to your nose? When you sneeze? When you nose runs? Every time you do, MRSA is being transferred to your hands and wherever they subsequently visit.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when washing your hands. First off, you’ll need clean, running water. Second, make sure it is warm. Third, just about any soap will do. Anti-bacterial is best, but not necessary. There is, however, one additional step that is necessary to really protect yourself. Make sure to use a hand sanitizer at least once a day. This will effectively kill anything nasty you are carrying around and give you a fresh start.

Your hands go everywhere for better or worse. If you want to keep them clean, using a hand sanitizer once a day is a wise move. Try it for a few months and notice how much better you feel.

John Grimes is with AllTerrainco.com - makers of natural hand sanitizer that kills the MRSA superbug in less than 15 seconds!