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Even though winter finally seems to be nearing its end, it doesn't mean that you still can't catch a cold. In addition to regular exercise and getting enough sleep, try eating foods that have been shown to boost your body's defenses. Here is a list of five foods, sourced from Fitness Magazine, that may help.

Ginger - Many cultures consider ginger to be a panacea for colds. Researchers say that fresh ginger may help fight viruses by helping the body sweat out toxins.

Eggs - High in B vitamins, zinc, and amino acids, eggs boost white blood cell count and antibodies, which the body needs to stave off illness.

Garlic - Immune-strengthening, sulfur-based compounds contained in garlic may help the body stay free of infection.

Yogurt - A study showed that people who ate three-quarters of a cup of yogurt daily for a year had 25 percent fewer colds than those who didn't. Because it contains probiotics, yogurt helps strengthen the immune system.

Red Bell Pepper - With 130mg more vitamin C than an orange, red bell pepper is a great source for this cold-fighting nutrient.

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Thanks to the onslaught of seasonal allergies, back-to-school colds, and the changing seasons, this is a very snotty time of year. Chances are at some point during September you'll be sniffling, so I thought it might be worth sharing a new twist on an old standby.

Introducing the NosePouch.

You probably haven't used a handkerchief...well...ever, and may have only seen one in action if your dad or grandpa happens to be old-fashioned. And for good reason -- they're gross. Especially when you have access to those convenient little tissue packets, why on Earth would you blow your nose into the same same piece of cloth over and over and over again?

But the NosePouch, as the name suggests, has added a little snot-catching fold, making this updated pocket cloth capable of holding significantly more refuse than the traditional version. So much so, that -- especially if you're the type to feel guilty about all those tissue packets you've been sending off to landfills -- it might be worth your while.

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This is a Listerine ad from 1932, claiming colds could be prevented by gargling twice a day with their product. Go here for the full text, which includes gems like "Wise eating, moderate exercise, ample rest are half the battle in warding off colds. The other half is the systematic twice-a-day gargle with Listerine, the safe antiseptic."

Hysterical. If only this were true!

[via Boing Boing]

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The flu and the cold are so similar, yet so different at the same time. Many of the same methods for avoiding the flu will also help you avoid a cold, but not the single biggest flu-fighter we have -- the flu shot. There is no "shot" for the common cold, and although you can get the flu more than once in a season most people don't. Now colds are another story, with many people getting cold after cold after cold until the warm weather finally hits and they get some relief.

So with all this talk lately of avoiding the flu, don't forget to do what you can to save yourself a cold or two also. See this article for some handy home remedies that just may save you a few boxes of Puffs Plus.

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The "power of positive thinking" has become such a common idea that it's almost cliche. But does it really work?

A recent study says yes, finding that people with generally positive personalities are more resistant to colds than those aren't as upbeat. By frequently experiencing positive emotions -- regardless of how often you experience negative emotions -- stimulate substances in your body that fight cold symptoms.

However it's not the emotions themselves, but the underlying personality traits of a person that regularly experiences those emotions, that's likely to trigger these symptom-fighting substances. Therefore, if you're someone that has high self-esteem, is extroverted and optimistic, or feels in control of your life, you're subsequently less likely to get sick.

So think positive, and maybe you can avoid the sniffles this winter!

(Thanks to Boing Boing for the link!)

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I called my pediatrician recently to discuss the hacking cough that has taken over our part of the country, and has been keeping us up for over two weeks now. "Don't even bring them in," she told me, "unless they take a turn for the worse." The bug is a virus, and there's nothing to do but wait it out. A common mindset that is finally starting to change is that children need an antibiotic every time they get a cold. We know now that cold weather doesn't cause a cold, and neither do bacteria. But there are other myths out there that prevail.

One example is the BRAT diet. When a child has the stomach flu, many people recommend feeding them (B)ananas, (R)ice, (A)pplesauce, and (T)oast. Doctors now say children with stomach and intestinal ailments are better off eating nutritious food they like, as long as you stay away from fruit juice and spicy dishes.

Why do myths about treating childhood ailments hang on? Some have been passed down over hundreds of years, like the old saying "Feed a cold, starve a fever." Others had a basis in medicine, but have been disproved. What childhood ailment treatment myths did you grow up with -- and what do you think about them now?

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Your weekly poker game may be making you sick, and not just because beer and cigars might be involved. You're not only playing chance with your money, but your health as well. In fact, the odds are that you're actually more likely to leave the card table with a new cold brewing than you are with the winning bet. Obviously, this is due to people coughing or sneezing into their hands and then dealing out cards and passing around chips.

Dr. Will Sawyer, who has dedicated his career to the importance of proper hand washing, says that germs can only float through the air about 3 feet. This means they are most commonly spread through direct contact -- such as touching contaminated playing cards and then touching your eyes or mouth. He also goes so far as to say that if people wash their hands often enough and at the right times they can avoid ever getting a gastrointestinal or respiratory illness again.

I do believe in the power of hand washing, but that's a pretty bold claim!

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