By Bec Whish

Sure, the best way to avoid a king hit from influenza this winter is to get a flu vax, but what about the mild seasonal cold? We spoke to immune-system expert Dr Heddy Zola about things you can do to ward off the snot monster.

1. Wash hands

Yes, your kindy teacher was onto something. The germs that cause colds can live for hours – even weeks – on objects like doorknobs, tap handles and phones. So, hit the soap and water often, avoid touching your mouth and nose, and cover mouth with a tissue when you sneeze.

2. Colour your diet

Get into fruits and vegetables that have dark or vivid colours – think spinach, capsicum and blueberries. Intense colour indicates that a plant has lots of nutrients, and if you eat that plant, some of its goodness becomes yours. Just like in a video game.

3. Move body

With colder, shorter days, the temptation to hibernate under a blanket drinking hot chocolate is high. But winter exercise will keep your body strong so it can fight off any bugs that try to invade. Plus, you’ll feel righteous curling up next to the heater all tuckered out from a run in the fresh air.

4. Calm down your life

When you’re stressed, your body produces cortisol, a hormone that messes with your immune system. However, when you’re relaxed, cortisol levels go down – especially when you’re physically active at the same time. Signing up for yoga
this winter will do the trick.

5. Ditch booze and smoking

Too much alcohol screws with your liver, so it can’t do its job of filtering blood for you. And we all know that smoking is generally horrendous from a health perspective – poor little cilia (delicate, hair-like structures on the trachea that sweep toxins away from the lungs) get slathered with crap and can’t work properly, creating prime breeding ground for cold and flu, and a legion of other nasties.

6. Stay hydrated

Getting enough water – whether through soups, herbal teas, or just the good ol’ tap – will keep the membranes of your nose and lungs plump and working well, according to Pam Stone, a Blackmores naturopath with 25 years’ experience. “Mucous membranes are more likely to dry out in winter because of cold winds and overheated environments, which makes it easier for a virus to take hold,” she says.

7. Take vitamins

Stone says that, during winter, we’re more likely to sit in closed rooms with lots of people, which means we’re exposed to more cold-and-flu bugs. We also get less fortifying vitamin D from the sun because we’re inside at work during daylight hours.

“In winter, you need to put in more effort to boost your immunity,” she says. “Look for supplements with vitamins D, C, zinc and echinacea – they’re specifically designed for the flu season.”If all else fails, there’s nothing like a hot water bottle, an industrial supply of Butter-Menthols, and an extended dose of daytime TV to make a miserable sick girl feel better.

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