Here at That's Fit, we often talk about how a healthy diet is good for you. But what does "good for you" actually mean? According to Diet-Blog, a healthy diet can have a positive impact on your immune system -- important information as we head into cold and flu season.

How does diet affect your ability to prevent or fight off nasty bugs? It gives your body the nutrients it needs to not only run efficiently, but also to fight off invaders before they infect. Since eating these foods won't stop a cold once it starts, you'll need to make these highly nutritional choices part of your daily diet.

For a healthy immune system, eat foods like:

• leafy greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes
• 100% juice
• high-quality protein like lean meats and fish, beans, lentils, or soy
• vitamin E-rich nuts and seeds, like sunflower, almonds, and walnuts
• whole grains, oats, quinoa, and brown rice
  
  

Of course, the choices are endless and Diet-Blog has even more ideas for you. Pair a healthy diet with sleep and exercise, and you can say bye-bye to those bugs and hello to a healthy winter.

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We've made tremendous progress in the fields of food, health and technology since the Victorian era. And yet we're not nearly as healthy overall as we were then. What gives?

Recent research is showing that not only did people live longer in the late 1800s, but they had strong immune systems too. Of course, there are several differences in the average Victorian diet compared to ours. Here's a rundown:

• They ate more, around 4,500 calories a day for men and 3,000 for women.
• But they also burned more calories, spending their working hours doing hard manual labour.
• Salt, sugar and tobacco weren't as readily available, and were rarely consumed.
  
• They ate between 8-10 servings a day of fresh fruits and veggies.
  
• In fact, all their food was fresh. After all, they didn't have fridges.
  
• They consumed lots of yeast, in both breads and beer. Yeast helps strengthen the immune system.
  

Want to know more? Read the full article over here.

T'ai chi is generally classified as a form of traditional Chinese soft-style martial arts. Some consider it a form of moving meditation, as focusing the mind solely on the slow movements purportedly helps to bring about a state of mental calm and clarity.

And while training in t'ai chi won't have you kicking but like Jacki Chan, it will help you fight off infection by boosting immune function. A recent study from the University of California found that performing t'ai chi three times a week for four months can halve a person's risk of infection from many common viruses.

To find a t'ai chi school or private instructor near you, check out this U.S. directory from the WorldTaiChiDay.org website.

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Proper nutrition is as much a part of the total fitness package as exercise and living a clean lifestyle. As such, many people incorporate nutritional supplements into their diet. While some are far more common than others (I'm yet to meet someone who actually takes Kratom powder), there seem to be a few supplements that most everyone can agree on. One that immediately comes to mind is Glutamine.

This amino acid becomes depleted when you engage in a rigorous exercise program, which is why it is used most frequently by seasoned trainers. When you exercise hard, you put your body through quite a bit. In fact, go just the slightest bit too far on a regular basis and your body will respond by weakening your immune system and releasing more cortisol. One way to prevent this from happening, as you might have expected, is to replenish your body's glutamine stores.

Though several published studies confirm glutmamine's immune-boosting and muscle-repairing properties, debate rages on over whether or not the research is sound. So, as I generally suggest for all supplements, be sure to first check with your doctor before running out and purchasing glutamine pills or powder.

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Airborne, a popular herbal supplement, that was created by a teacher who was sick of getting sick all the time. But the company recently faced a class action lawsuit regarding false advertising because of advertisements that claimed Airborne could combat the common cold. The company has since dropped those claims but now says the product can boost your immune system so it can better fight off germs.

The defendants haven't admitted any wrongdoing, but they've agreed to pay a 23.3 million dollar settlement, issue refunds to consumers, and take out ads informing consumers how they can get their refund. A nutritionist for the non-profit organization Center for Science in the Public Interest stated that there was no evidence that Airborne can protect you from germs.

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Carbs are generally considered the enemy when it comes to weight loss, so we fervently avoid pasta, bread and potatoes, usually without seeing the results we wanted. What's behind the notion that carbs are a no-no for weight loss? And is there any truth to it?

Evidence shows that at least one carb--potatoes--isn't counter-productive to weight loss, and in fact can even help you lose weight. How so? Here are the reasons you shouldn't give up on 'taters:

• They can boost your metabolism
• They help curb hunger hormones
• They can prevent cancer and heart disease
• They can help boost your immune system.
  

Want to know more? Click here. But remember, French fries and potato chips don't count. When eating potatoes, stick to ones cooked with as little fat as possible.

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Though there's not always much you can do to avoid being exposed to cold and flu germs -- think of the person hacking away in the cubicle next to you or your preschooler coughing in your face -- you can protect yourself from viruses by eating a healthy diet. Good nutrition helps your body run well, and that includes your immune system. Not only that, but when you're in good health, it's easier to fight off the bugs you do catch.

Ediets has a list of foods that, eaten regularly, can give your body the antioxidants it needs to fight off flu this season. Get essential fatty acids from nuts and seeds, antioxidants from citrus fruit and leafy greens, and energy from complex carbs. Take a look at the gallery below for more flu-busting good nutrition choices.

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A study out of Boston University this week concluded that obese people have a weakened immune response and, as such, find it much more difficult to fight off infections.

To those who have researched a healthy lifestyle that leads to optimum weight levels, this is no surprise. Obesity can stress the body in many ways which apparently causes the immune system to be less effective.

Maybe this is why the U.S. sees so many drug prescriptions for infections -- because the burgeoning level of obesity in this country has made a majority of us unable to competently fight infections with the tools inside our own bodies. What do you think?

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Ever heard of Cupuacu? Yeah, me neither. But it could be the next superfood, according to health food sources. It's a tree found in the Amazon Rainforest and it a relative of the cacao plant. Want to know more? It's been said to have a number of amazing benefits, such as:

• It can increase your libido
• It can boost your immune system
• It can reduce the signs of aging and help you look and feel younger
• It help your body fight disease and cancer cells
• It's high in antioxidants.
  

And the best part? I've never tried it I hear it has a delicious chocolaty taste. Mmm ...

What do you think -- is this the next superfood, or just a new name for snake oil?

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This past weekend, medical researchers stated that drug-resistant bacteria called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are able to kill immune system cells at the time when they are most vulnerable.

The "staph germ" that's been in the news recently is contained in a newer breed of bacteria that is highly resistant to newer drugs, and when I hear of immune cell killer capability, it does remind me that humans are powerless against Mother Nature. There is no cure for incapability.

Now, with newer understanding comes newer thinking and newer research, and some day the anticipation of drug-resisting bacteria may lead to treatments that can surpass the limitations in place today. Don't count on this anytime soon, though.

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The human immune system's "memory' -- the rate at which it continues to protect us from invading organisms -- lasts much longer than many scientists previously though, according to a new study.

In fact, the researchers states that in some cases, the effects from the immune system can last more than 200 years. That length of time ought to protect anybody for as long as they need, right?

This study shows yet another reason the human machine is so remarkable. The question is if newer medicine and technology will mean 200-year lifespans in the future.

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A couple of days ago, I told you how to sleep more deeply. But why is sleep so important? Here's list of what a lack of sleep can do to you:

• You body has difficulty processing glucose -- meaning you can't metabolize sugar properly, which makes your cells unhealthy ... and the rest of your body too.
  
• You're in a constant state of alertness, because your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, are spiked. This means you'll be under constant stress and will have trouble resting -- meaning you'll have trouble sleeping
• Your immune system weakens. I know about this all too well. When I was a starving student, pulling all-nighters and working evenings and weekend to make ends meet, I was constantly sick. Now that I get a proper amount of shut-eye, I haven't been sick in ages.
• You're moody.
• You're not mentally sharp
• You crave junk food. And because you're not at you peak performance, you're more likely to give in to those cravings.
  

So remember folks -- make sleep a priority.

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The adenovirus has been around for years, causing cold and flu-like symptoms, including some stomach flus, is gaining lots of attention lately -- for being potentially deadly. New and improved testing methods has revealed that the adenovirus is prevalent and sometimes fatal in healthy people, often fatal in those with a compromised immune system -- those awaiting a bone marrow transplant, for instance.

But knowing the adenovirus is the first step to stopping it in its tracks. In fact, vaccines have already been contracted for certain strains. In the meantime, what can you do? I know it sounds cliche but washing your hands is the best way to prevent transmission of any virus.

For more info on the adenovirus and recent findings, check out this article.

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Life is too short not to be fully "tuned in." The Daily Turn On! is designed to wake up your senses, all six of them: smell, taste, touch, hearing, sight and intuition! Everyday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will awaken your mind, your body and your life!

Did you know ... The act of touching and being touched can boost your immune system. The more touches, hugs, kisses, massages, handshakes, pats on the back, etc., you give and receive will make you healthier and happier.

A woman's skin is more sensitive than a man's, and yet women need more touch. Women typically experience a higher level of stress but lower levels of the chemicals necessary to balance stress. A quick hug is a quick and easy way to reduce stress. If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't wait for someone to hug you -- go after it yourself and hug someone. You will feel better immediately!

Try it out ... Hug a friend, a family member or even a colleague. Pat a friend on the hand or shoulder when speaking. Kiss a cheek when greeting. Give hello and good-bye hugs. When hugging children, let them let go of you first!

Observe your emotions ... Are you happy? Do you feel alive and awake? More positive? Less stressed? Share your experiences with us. More hugs in this world and more people talking about them can only be a good thing!

Turn On your senses ... Live a Fit Life!

As I sit down to work in the afternoon, I often have the TV blaring away in the background, and while most people would find it impossible to work in such conditions, I don't really like TV (especially daytime TV) so I find it easy to tune out. Over the past few weeks, I've listened with mild amusement to some old episodes of The Dr. Phil House, where opposites are pitted against one another in a blatant attempt at ratings. If you haven't seen it, it's a reality TV-style house that contains a fat guy who hates skinny people and a skinny girl who hates fat people, plus an array of other colorful combinations.

I do have a point here. A study shows that the skinny girl who hates fat people might not just be prejudiced -- it might be an evolved response. According to The Independent in Britain, when a slim person sees an obese person, their immune system is triggered because the brain relates site of the obese person to a fear of infection. Moreover, in a series of questions given to subjects, the people who exhibited disgust toward germs and bad hygiene were more likely to discriminate against someone based on their weight.

But regardless of whether it's a "natural" reaction, discrimination is still wrong, and I think being prejudiced is ultimately a learned behavior. What do you think?

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