If your weight, health and overall quality of life weren't reason enough to get active on a regular basis, here's another one that might get you off the couch: Working out can help you fight the flu this winter season. Well, that's according to a study on mice anyway. Researchers from Iowa State University have found that mice who regularly run on a treadmill experience flu symptoms that are far less severe than the symptoms suffered by their lazier counterparts. Even mice who only started exercising right before the flu had less severe symptoms, though the ones who were regular gym-rats (pardon the pun) had longer-lasting positive effects -- meaning their symptoms were diminished throughout the course of their illness, not just in the first few days.

The findings, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, suggest that exercise can really boost the immune system, and while it's not clear whether the results can be applied to humans as well, researchers are optimistic. And besides, it's already the general consensus that regular, moderate exercise helps improve your odds against illness.

Still, don't overdo it -- you can get too much of a good thing. According to Jeffrey A. Woods, a professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois, prolonged and intense exercise sessions can lead "to increased susceptibility to viral infection." His advice on navigating flu season? "I would recommend everyone get the annual influenza vaccination and the new H1N1 vaccination," he tells The New York Times.

The flu isn't the only thing that exercise is good for -- cardio is more effective than heart surgery.

Need another reason to exercise? Do it to boost your immunity this winter! But, beware -- exercising too much can actually have the opposite effect.

Exercising too much and too intensely can cause upper respiratory infections -- which makes me wonder if all my years of playing basketball and volleyball had anything to do with my yearly bout with bronchitis, which tapered off when I entered college.

Basically, you want to exercise enough to maintain a healthy weight, which will in itself help you battle colds and flu, and you'll sleep better. Body + Soul magazine also recommends managing your stress as much as possible by eating well, getting some probiotics, taking the right supplements (like astragalus) and making sleep a priority.

I was watching the Olympics the other day and saw a piece where a reporter went and received acupuncture treatments. It was interesting to hear about this particular practitioner who was influential in acupuncture's acceptance into Western culture. After the piece, the reporter mentioned that Nastia Liukin, gold medalist in the women's all-around gymnastics competition, has weekly acupuncture treatments.

She's not alone. Acupuncture is widely used as a method to aid and speed healing from sports-related injuries. Though the thought of multiple metal needles being inserted into your body is daunting, to say the least, proponents of the traditional form of medicine sing its praises. In addition to aiding in healing, acupuncture is said to help athletes by boosting energy, improving circulation, and ensuring the body gets the most out of nutrients. In addition, acupuncture is said to help improve the quality of sleep and boost immunity.

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An experimental cancer treatment has proved successful for one man. The patient had advanced skin cancer which had spread to his lungs and a lymph node. Previously, the cancer hadn't responded to other treatments. So what was this experimental treatment? Well, essentially the patient healed himself.

In the study, patients' t-cells (white blood cells which promote immunity) were harvested and multiplied before being re-administered to the patient. After treatment, the patient went in to complete remission and remained in remission for two years.

Other patients in the study, who received smaller or greater amounts of cloned t-cells, either had no response to the treatment or only a limited response. Doctors aren't yet sure what variable caused this particular patient to respond so favorably. While further research is needed, this limited success gives doctors hope that they are heading in the right direction.

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According to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, one in four toddlers are improperly vaccinated. Missed doses or improperly timed doses make up for the majority of immunization errors in children who are 19-35 months old.

Though immunization rates in the US remain good overall -- and the rates of children who are immunized by kindergarten age are higher than ever -- the CDC recommends children being vaccinated at the proper, recommended times. So, in addition to relying on your pediatrician's recommendations, it's important for parents to do their own homework.

For more information, see the CDC's information on vaccines.

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When I get stressed or anxious, my mood is quickly reflected in my son's behavior. He's more likely to be disrespectful and to break rules when I'm stressed. Of course, if I don't break the cycle it creates an awfully vicious circle, because his behavior can make me more stressed. But I just try to remind myself (sometimes more successfully than others) that I am the parent and therefore should be at least a tad more emotionally mature than my 10-year-old.

But it turns out that our stress levels can do more than set off a temper tantrum... it can actually lead to our kids getting sick. A recent study found kids with anxious or depressed parents also had higher sickness levels. The parents' stress can actually lower the child's immunities and lead to significantly higher instances of illness.

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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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Zinc is more than just a way to use a 'z' in scrabble -- it's an essential nutrient that your body needs, both to heal wounds and injuries and help your body break down carbohydrates. How do you know if you're getting enough? Here are some signs that you're not, according to Everyday Health:

• Wounds, lesions and infections are difficult to heal.
  
• Your appetite is decreased.
  
• You experience an abnormal sense of taste and smell.
  
• You have difficulty seeing in the dark
• You experience abnormal hair loss.
  

Think you might be low on zinc? Load up on protein sources like red meat, turkey, seafood and legumes, as well as veggies like spinach and peas. Whole wheat bread, yogurt and milk are also good sources.

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I'm not usually a sucker for advertising, but the cold and flu season has hit my family hard this month. Looking to boost our immunity after three weeks of colds, fevers, stomach flus, and nasty coughs, I picked up a couple packs of DanActive, along with every fruit and vegetable I could stuff in my cart. I had no idea if it would work, but I figured it couldn't hurt.

A recent class action lawsuit makes me wonder if I wouldn't have been better off just buying the less expensive store brand yogurt instead. Critics say that the makers of DanActive and Activa (who claim their product will regulate the digestive system) have wildly exaggerated the clinically proven health benefits of their product. Dannon, who makes both yogurts, stands by their products.

The bottom line is that yogurt is good for you. But can it improve your immunity and cure your digestive complaints? The answer to that remains to be seen...

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How much time do you waste every winter being sick? Your to-do list is long enough without getting slowed down and delayed by an illness, and we all know what happens once you skip a workout or two -- it's a slippery slope that's hard to recover from.

So the trick to not falling behind and not falling off the wagon altogether is to keep from interrupting your good flow by not getting sick. And although there's no guaranteed way to never get sick, by eating the right foods and living a healthy lifestyle you can boost your immunity and eliminate most (if not all) illnesses.

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Winter is known as the season for sickness -- I know this well, since I've been battling a cold for the last couple of weeks. But you can fight back against illness. How? By stocking up on Superfoods, of course. AOL Body recommends packing your kitchen full of the following immunity-building things:

• Blueberries
• Plain yogurt
• Broccoli
• Winter Squash
• Kale
• Pumpkin
• Apples
• Healthy soup

Want to know why? Click here for more information.

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Running out of energy this holiday season? All that running around, partygoing and gift shopping can leave all but the strongest among us feeling completely pooped.

Being around quite a few people also invites a virus or two around, so it's best to keep your immunity working at an optimum level in the month of December.

How do you do that? Find the best combination of immunity-enhancing supplements and make sure you're getting the nutrients you need to allow your body to defend itself against fatigue and all those outside invaders. Vitamin C and Echinacea are great starters, but there is more.

Ever hear of elderberry or acai? These are great superfoods that are also great for usage in wintertime. And there's more -- much more.

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April 21 through 28 (yep, that's this week) is National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). The U.S. HHS Dept and the CDC are coming together along with hundreds of communities across the country to support and educate regarding getting infant and childhood vaccinations.

Sadly, as many as 20% of American children are not up to date on vaccinations at age 2. That's a huge number, especially considering that enough unpreventable and uncurable diseases and threats exist against a child's health without putting them at unnecessary risk for additional avoidable illnesses.

This week's official theme, per the NIIW:
"Love them. Protect them. Immunize them."

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New research has linked the stress of being unemployed to decreased immune function, and therefore increased illness. And if you're all pale and sickly then your chances of landing that awesome new job get slimmer, which makes you sicker....wow, that's one vicious circle!

Good news is that when the stress is decreased by getting a job (or winning the lottery!) the immune system will rebound and recover. That is good news because can you imagine how sick we'd all be if we didn't at least partially recover from stressful periods? If it all just piled up and accumulated over our whole lives? Yeah, all my hair would have fallen out long ago.

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