Indepth answer to Ollie's call for a cold cure

By Merill Haseen

IF YOU get two or more colds a year, it could be because your immune system is weak. So the best way to prevent having colds all winter long is to build up your immune system...

• Get enough sleep: you can't fight off germs if you're fighting to stay awake.
• Drink plenty of fluids: you lose a pint of water daily just from breathing - and this increases in the cold weather, because dry winter air draws moisture out of the body. Your nasal passages provide an effective barrier against germs so it's important to stop them drying out.
• Eat well: cut right down on alcohol, fried foods and saturated fats and eat more fruit and vegetables. Research shows that eating a monotonous diet won't maintain your immune system, so aim for a variety of food.
• Limit your sugar intake: research shows that sugar reduces the ability of white blood cells to destroy viral invaders.
• Stay stress-free: when you are anxious, your body gives priority to the 'fight or flight' response, which effectively lowers the immune system.
• Wrap up well: your body needs to use more energy to stay warm and that leaves you vulnerable to infections.
• Take exercise: studies show that people who do five 30-minute sessions of exercise a week have significantly less time off work with colds. (Walking to work also cuts your contact with infected people. )
• Stay happy: depression makes you more vulnerable to infection.

It's also a good idea to avoid putting yourself in situations where you can catch infections...

• Avoid places where it's easy to catch the infection: one infected passenger on a crowded train can sneeze and propel the virus through the air at 100 miles per hour , infecting anyone within 30 feet. Colds are easily spread on busy trains, buses and planes. Even a karaoke session could be risky: a study shows that microphones can carry the bacteria that lead to coughs and colds.

• Wash your hands: although sneezes and coughs transfer viruses, you are just as likely to be infected by someone who has coughed on their hand then touched a door handle or held a handrail on the bus.
• Get fresh air: central heating encourages germs to multiply.