Lipstick Powder N Paint

Catching a cold is not inevitable this season – there are steps you can take before it’s too late. If your body is a temple, then consider these tips the big barbed-wire fence around it.

1. Supplement

Keep your body strong and alert with daily helpers. Taking 1,000 to 2,000 IU of vitamin D enables the immune system to identify and fight off germs and viruses. Since 70 percent of our immune system lives in the intestines, a probiotic supplement is crucial for maintaining the balance of good bacteria and strong defenses. And if you’ve got that familiar sore-throat twinge, reach for oil of oregano, a potent antiseptic, swallow some sweet elderberry syrup, or reach for Echinacea and mushroom extracts – old-world remedies that have stuck around because they work.

2. Eat smart

That whipped cream-topped latte isn’t going to offer any help when that cold comes knocking (sugar actually weakens the immune system). Try a protein shake instead – the nutrient produces antibodies that help fight infection. Other fortifying foods include kale, sweet potatoes, quinoa, onions and garlic. Eat frequently during the day (low blood sugar stresses the body) and drink plenty of water – jazzed up with detoxifying shaved ginger or lemon slices – to flush out offenders.

3. Lather, rinse, repeat

Studies have shown that it doesn’t matter how hot the water is or how fancy your suds are – the mere fact that you’re lathering up for at least 15 seconds (don’t forget under your nails, around the cuticles and all the way up to the wrists) is what’s important.

4. Have sex

No kidding: a good romp decreases levels of stress hormones in the body (one of the most common cold culprits) and boosts testosterone and estrogen, which in turn strengthen immunity. Not in the mood? A session on the treadmill is almost as effective (though not nearly as fun).