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.

Have you ever had food poisoning? Get the down-low on the dirtiest foods.

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Anyone who's tried any sort of a cleanse or detox is probably well aware that detox symptoms feel a lot like actual sickness symptoms. You will very possibly experience diarrhea, gas, headache, lightheadedness, and irritability when entering a cleanse and unless you know what you're getting yourself into, it can be hard to tell whether or not something is actually wrong.

Raw foodist Nomi Shannon did an interview with Renegade Roundtable, touching specifically on this problem. She talked about the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, where people can go for a "raw retreat." Shannon mentioned that, on the fifth day of each cycle of visitors, everyone would be angry, hating their roommates and feeling irritable.

This is why she recommends following a program, either attending something like what the Hippocrates Health Institute offers or using a good book that describes the different phases of your cleanse and gives you a bit of guidance. If your body isn't accustomed to tons of raw fruits and veggies, you're going to feel different for a few days if that's all you're eating. But, of course, if you're really not feeling well, you should certainly contact your doctor. There's no point in taking chances!

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There's no denying it -- some people seem to be prone to every kind of illness out there, while some are healthy as a horse. I tend to fall into the latter category -- besides one doozy of a cold I had last January, I haven't been sick in ages. But trust me, I'm exposed to just as many germs as anyone else, be it at the office, at the gym, at school and just about any public place I frequent.

AOL Health recently listed the healthy habits of women who never get sick, including these:

• Get regular massages (I really like this one!)
• Wash your hands
• Sip ginger and honey for stomach and bowel issues
• Take cold showers
• Get your fill of garlic, vitamin c and zinc

As for me, I find that the old adage an apple a day keeps the doctor away really works! How do you stay healthy?

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Years ago, I worked at a publishing company. The average age in my department was around 24; we worked hard, but we also had a lot of fun. One day, a co-worker called in and left a voice mail saying that he wasn't going to be in the office that day. He didn't say he was sick, he didn't cite some personal emergency... he said "I just can't do the day."

Haven't we all felt like that from time to time? Most work environments wouldn't take so kindly to an employee just taking an unscheduled slacker day, however.

Now there's a website that sells fake doctor's notes. The site states that the notes -- printed with the illness of your choice -- are for novelty purposes only, but they also offer a money-back guarantee if the notes don't get you a free pass from work or school.

Are you making plans for your next escape already? Too bad... the notes are printed on the UK's National Health Service (NHS) paper. Plus, according to the NHS, it's legal in the UK to print and sell the notes but it is illegal to receive payment (e.g. sick pay from work) after using such a note.

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There are 26 confirmed cases of food poisoning related to deli meats produced by a Canada-based Maple Leaf Foods plant. 12 of those cases have resulted in death. Listeria, the bacteria that was found in all of the people who contracted food poisoning, was detected in two beef products made at the Toronto plant.

The plant in question is closed while health officials inspect and test product until they're sure it is safe to reopen the plant. Maple Leaf Foods voluntarily pulled 220 products that are produced at the plant, a safety move that cost the company roughly $19 million.

There are another 29 suspected cases of food poisoning related to the tainted deli meats and health officials expect more cases will surface in the coming days.

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This morning was a special day for the mommies in my playgroup and I. Today we donated over 150 stuffed monkeys to the children being cared for at North Florida Regional Medical Center (NFRMC) in honor of our Angel Odessa. Odessa Virginia Webster was born at NFRMC on February 24, 2003, and landed back at the same hospital on March 25, 2004 for care after a fatal head injury. At thirteen months old, Odessa was stolen from her parents Matt and Anita, her loving family, and our already tight playgroup family. It was devastating for all of us, and out of our grief came an intense drive to honor our "Angel O".

To back up a bit, our playgroup began when our infants met at a "new mommy" luncheon hosted at NFRMC when they were two weeks old. Well, the infants didn't exactly meet each other, but us moms did ... and we decided then and there that we wanted to stick together. That made ten families dealing with the insanity of newborns and leaning on each other for friendship, advice, stress relief, and fun. We literally have been getting together for "playgroup" every Tuesday since, and our children are all addicted to each other; the best of friends. At the start, we would have never imagined what would come for us, for her, the following year. I just remember checking my email one day and opening one from Anita with "Odessa Virginia Webster" as the title. I expected to see a new photo from a portrait studio. A portrait was included, but it went along with a letter written by Anita informing us that her daughter was gone. "Please don't call now. I'm not ready to talk" she wrote. I simply can't describe the agony that followed for all of us.

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Although I will expand on Randy Pausch, I imagine you're already well aware of who he is. He's the unstoppable man, who has inspired millions and millions of people around the world by his passion for life while he fights an almost impossible battle with pancreatic cancer. I learned of Dr. Pausch many months ago as Diane Sawyer interviewed him on ABC. He blew me away with his humor, dedication to his family, and outrageous courage.

His journey since his diagnosis put him on stage at the University he was a professor at, Carnegie Mellon, for his Last Lecture. This Last Lecture made it to YouTube (embedded below) and then became a best selling book, The Last Lecture. His outlook on life and stories of his childhood and career have inspired other cancer patients to fight harder and regular people to just be better. Although he's truly only concerned with getting his message across to his three young children, he's positively affected millions of others as a side effect.

Recently, President Bush was compelled to write to Randy Pausch. This can't change Randy's fate with cancer, but as a representative of the American people ... it was a fantastic way to show our appreciation for Randy setting a new standard for 'goodness' and dedicating his life to teaching others.

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Don't go outside with wet hair. You'll get sick if you do. Or will you?

Nope. Wet hair worn outside won't make you ill. Science proves it, say researchers at Baylor University. Here's how they know: They exposed 44 volunteers to the cold virus and had some stand in a chilly room and some in a toasty room. Those kept in the chilled space weren't any more likely to get the sniffles than anyone in the toasty room. That's because viruses cause colds, not wet hair or cold temps.

The best way to boost your immune system and keep healthy is to get enough sleep and exercise, according to SHAPE magazine. This way, your body can defend itself against any virus.

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I know a lot of people who say that they catch some kind of bug every time they fly. There's no doubt that sharing cabin air and sitting in close proximity to a passenger with a contagious illness ups your risk of getting sick yourself.

What's a person to do when they fall ill before a flight? The right thing to do is to stay put to protect your own health as well as the health of others, but getting out of your ticket can be especially tricky.

Travel columnist Elliot Christopher has four tips for travelers who find themselves suddenly and seriously ill before a flight, tips that might just help you skip your flight without losing hundreds of dollars in fees or non-refundable tickets. It's not always an easy battle to win, but it might not be as hard as you think.

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You know, I've never been all consumed with American Idol like lots of people. But I must admit I'll tune in here and there throughout the competition. It's decent entertainment, and I kind of think Simon Cowell is sexy. Nonetheless! I just tucked my healthy babies into bed and plopped down into mine with the old laptop to write about fitness with the television on here in my room.

American Idol is in the middle of their Idol Gives Back program, and they seem to be making a great case for helping children in the U.S. and abroad. Feeling fortunate that my two angels do not have to deal with any of the horrors some other children are suffering from.....I logged on to AmericanIdol.com and made a donation. Partly because of guilt, but mostly out of hope.

If you're a lucky parent like me or just someone who loves children, maybe you can call or log on and donate too. 1-877-IDOL-AID or AmericanIdol.com

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If someone told you that desks (like the one you're probably using right now) have more germs and bugs than bathrooms... would you believe it? I wouldn't have fallen for it before reading this article. Researchers say our desks could accommodate as much 400 times the amount of germs than a restroom.

It's no wonder we work ourselves into sick symptoms -- it could actually be our desk causing the problem! Even though our world is filled with all kinds of microscopic organisms, the place at which you sit and work for hours of the day harbors germs that can make you ill.

Millions of bacteria cover the surface of your desktop. While it's not grounds for hosing it down or living in a bubble, if you engage in other activities like eating or putting on makeup, then it's more likely to trap and spread sick-causing germs. In fact, experts recommend wiping the desk down once at the end of every day with disinfectant wipes. After all, it could make the difference against a small weekend head cold. But who is more at risk for dirtier desks: men or women?

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The majority of Americans have, or have had, a pet as part of their family. Studies have shown that having pets can be really good for your health (lowering heart rate and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol) but pets, like all animals, can also carry disease. If you don't take the right precautions you and your family could end up getting really sick. The very old, the very young, pregnant women, and anybody with a compromised immune system are at the most risk, but anybody could catch any number of nasty things. Here are a few pointers for avoiding pet-related illnesses:

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At any given moment, there are 2 million passengers on board commercial flights high above the earth. That's what this article claims, but the amazing thing is that one company is responsible for taking calls from flight attendants if a passenger feels ill. While it gives me a little comfort to know medical events can be called in to professionals, the CNN articles reveals that you should think twice before going airborne if you aren't in tip-top shape to begin with.

The reason being is because flight attendants are not medically trained. If you get sick or ill, the pilot (not a doctor) must weight various factors before deciding if he can divert the plane off-course. This can leave a person feeling very icky thousands of feet in the air.

Consider this: if you just got a cast for a broken bone, there's a chance your arm could slightly swell due to altitude changes which could cause discomfort. The bottom line is simple. If you're not feeling well, don't fly. These are not airborne hospitals with trained professionals, and planes don't always divert for sick passengers. It's easy to understand why this is a hot-button issue, but experts agree that staying grounded is the best choice for unwell fliers.

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At some point, most people have tried, or at least considered, a cure they thought unorthodox. I have a friend who swears you can stop hiccupping if you say, "One!" after the first hiccup. Go ahead, try it -- it doesn't work for me, but you never know.

Men's Health has come up with six seemingly crazy cures that they swear are effective. Suffer from sleep apnea? Trying to quit smoking? Click through the gallery and see if there's a cure for your ailment -- what do you have to lose?

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