By Jessica Levine[1] for Men's Health


If you don't fast-forward commercials, you've seen this one from Zicam[2] : A pretty woman daintily sneezes into her elbow when out of nowhere a snot-nosed monster of a cold is chasing her. "That first sneeze. You have a pre-cold," the voiceover says. She runs. He corners her in a dark alley. She panics.


You've been there. Adults average two to four colds a year, and the typical upper respiratory infection takes up to 10 days to get over. But that first sniffle, throat tickle or cough doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. In this case, a heroic box of Zicam saved the day, of course, flattening Snot-Nose like a semi. But it turns out there are other cold-fighting heroes out there, too.


1. Pop zinc. It's not false advertising. Research shows taking zinc (the active ingredient in Zicam) lozenges, tablets or syrup within a day of your first symptoms can reduce both their severity and duration. Taking a supplement regularly can help, too.


More from Men's Health:

Fix Anything with Massage

The Best Allergy Medicines

What Men Can Learn from Women about Health[3] [4] [5]


2. Then find Zen. "When you're under stress, your immune system ends up under-reacting to viral and bacterial infections," says Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, M.D., internist and past president of the American College of Physicians. Perhaps that's why University of Wisconsin researchers found mindfulness meditation training reduced the incidence, duration and severity of a cold by 35 to 60 percent.


3. Jack up your H2O intake. "Hydration helps keep your nasal passages moist, so they can actually get rid of little particles from bacteria," Fryhofer says.


4. Make like Grandpa and gargle. Evidence shows gargling with water a few times a day during cold and flu season may also help flush out bugs.


5. Pop a probiotic. In a recent study, probiotic supplements shortened the duration of a cold from six days to four, made symptoms a third less severe and halved the number of days subjects stayed home. Look for the strains LGG and BB12.


Click over to Men's Health for the full list.[6]





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  • Hand Washing


    There may be no more promoted solution to avoiding the flu this year (besides the flu shot, of course) than diligent hand washing. As many as 80 percent of infections are transmitted via contact like sneezing, coughing or touching surfaces that have been sneezed or coughed on, says Tierno, and then touching "your mouth, eyes or nose, which are the conduits of viruses into the body." He recommends scrubbing before eating, drinking or touching your face, and disinfecting shared surfaces in the home (like the bathroom) and the office, like phones, computers and fridge door handles.




  • Sleep


    While you're off in dreamland, your body gets to work repairing cells and injuries you may have incurred during the normal day's wear and tear, says Tierno. Getting your seven to nine hours a night means your body can repair and heal itself and ward off infections. "If you don't get the appropriate sleep, that system is not operating and you're on a steady decline over time," he says. In fact, skimping on sleep is <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/circadian-rhythms-immunity-immune-system_n_1281654.html">as disruptive to the immune system as stress</a>, according to a 2012 study. And earlier research suggested that sleep patterns may play a role in a gene that helps fight off bacteria and viruses.




  • Exercise


    Getting your blood pumping regularly can <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/07/exercise-immunity_n_1190296.html">increase the activity of a type of white blood cells</a> that attacks viruses. Shoot for an hour a day, says Tierno -- but not necessarily all at once. "Even if it's walking around the office, up stairs, down stairs, to and from work -- it doesn't have to be continuous," he says.




  • Zinc


    Getting the proper amount of the right nutrients and minerals as part of a healthy diet "leaves the body in optimal condition to fight the battle," says Tierno. This means cutting back on sugary, fatty foods and upping your intake of vegetables, fruit and lean protein, he says. One of those nutrients that gets a particularly healthy reputation during cold and flu season is zinc, and for good reason. "Zinc interferes with viruses gaining full access to our cells," he says. "Zinc may block certain metabolic activity." While it's <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/07/zinc-cold-symptoms_n_1497827.html">not the end-all cure</a>, foods rich in zinc, like <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-turner/cold-prevention_b_2124507.html#slide=1771069">oysters</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/immune-boosting-superfood_n_1181192.html#s585162&title=Wheat_Germ">wheat germ</a>, may offer some protection.




  • Garlic


    The anti-microbial properties of this pungent bulb (and its relative, the onion) can fight off certain bacteria and viruses, says Tierno, as can the compounds in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/healthy-herbs-spices-healthiest_n_2089007.html">other herbs and spices</a>, like thyme. It's likely due to the compound <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/health/20real.html?_r=0">allicin, which seems to block infections</a>. Try it in your next bowl of soothing chicken soup!




  • Water


    Thankfully, most of us are inhabiting cozy-warm homes this winter, but those cranking radiators come with a downside. Indoor winter air is much dryer than our bodies would like. Without sufficient moisture, says Tierno, "immune system cells can't optimally work," so it's important to stay hydrated. (A <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2009-02-11/health/healthmag.humidifier.flu_1_humidity-water-vapor-winter-flu-season?_s=PM:HEALTH">humidifier can also help</a>.)




  • Skipping Happy Hour


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/28/alcohol-effects-body-infographic_n_2333328.html">Alcohol suppresses both the part of the immune system</a> that protects you from coming down with something and the part that fights off the germs already in your system, so knocking a few too many back can put you at increased risk for catching the bug going around -- and having trouble kicking it.




  • Laughter


    A positive attitude can take you far -- even, maybe, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/06/personality-longevity_n_1652685.html#slide=1190731">to age 100</a>. But along the way, a life of laughter and optimism could also help you sniffle through fewer bouts of the flu or colds. While there's much that's still not well understood about the process, it seems that <a href="http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/give-your-body-boost-with-laughter">certain immune cells are produced</a> by a big belly laugh, says Tierno.




  • Massage


    A <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/08/massage-benefits-health_n_1261178.html">favorite solution for de-stressing</a>, massage can also help you stay physically healthy. While there's been <a href="http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/090110.htm">little research into exactly how it works</a>, massage certainly increases circulation, which may help promote the general "state of wellness in the body," says Tierno. "Nutrients are passed around better, the blood flow is better," he says. "It's a very useful thing to get a massage."




  • Sex


    A 1999 study found that getting frisky a couple of times a week can <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/319070.stm">boost immunoglobin A</a>, an antibody that fights off colds. Just make sure your partner isn't already sick!