7 Tips to Try if You Keep Getting Colds ...

One thing that you need to do to help avoid colds is to boost your immune system. You can do this by eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. But you also need to avoid stress, which will compromise your immune system, and get enough sleep. Be sure to practice some form of relaxation to counteract any stresses in your life and help you sleep well.

Good hygiene will also help prevent you from catching colds. It's easy to pick up the cold virus by touching something that an infected person has touched, such as a doorknob. So wash your hands frequently. You should also avoid touching your nose and eyes, as this will transmit the virus.

Echinacea is a herbal remedy that is considered to be helpful in preventing colds and flu, or reducing the duration. While it's not a proven method of prevention, many people swear by it. So it may be worth a try if you're always catching cold. It's best to start taking it early in the season.

It may also help to take a Vitamin C supplement, as well as consuming plenty of fruit. Like echinacea, the effectiveness of Vitamin C as a supplement is not proven, but some believe that a high-dose supplement will prevent colds. Look for a supplement that contains 500 milligrams of the vitamin.

Exercise tends to be something that we're less inclined to do during the cold season, yet it can help give your immune system a boost. Just 30 minutes of exercise daily will be beneficial; even a simple walk will be good for your health. Exercise will help your immune system by improving your sleep and helping your immune system do its job of fighting infection.

I've already mentioned that you should eat plenty of fruit and vegetables to combat colds. But which foods are most helpful? You want to eat those with Vitamins A & C, Beta-carotene (which the body converts into Vitamin A) and zinc. Look for brightly-colored fruit and vegetables such as berries, citrus fruits, carrots and spinach. Garlic is also a potential helper, and I've found I catch very few colds when I eat chilis every day.

If you're feeling stressed and run-down, your body will be less able to fight infection. The stress hormones mean that the immune system can't work as well as it should. So try to manage your stress and not allow it to affect you too much. Any form of relaxation will be beneficial, such as meditation, so practice it regularly.

While you might not be able to stave off colds completely, you may be able to reduce the number of colds you catch. So look after yourself, eat well, and get enough sleep. Have you heard of any other ways to prevent colds?