COUGH and colds are contagious. A person with weak immune system, stressed, and sickly can easily be infected.

When a person with cold sneezes, coughs or blows his nose near you, chances are you can easily catch a cold. The same goes when you touch your nose, eyes or mouth after you have touched something contaminated by the virus.

The viral replication begins two to six hours after initial contact and symptoms usually begin two to five days after initial infection.

Don’t let your system down. Here’s some help to keep cold virus at bay.


* Get enough sleep. Sleep regulates the release of the hormone cortisol, which stimulates cells that boost the immune system. A recent study indicates that people who fall short are nearly three times as likely to catch a cold. To make bedtime even more healthful, try using a protective pillow cover which can help prevent getting stuffy and running nose.

* Sneak in oysters in diet. Oysters contain more of the mineral zinc than any other food, and zinc has been proven to support and enhance the immune system. Eating just a single oyster will give you a whopping 13 milligrams of zinc. That said, since it may be difficult to work them into your diet regularly, look for zinc-fortified breakfast cereals, baked beans, and pumpkin seeds to help you get the recommended eight milligrams a day.

If you have the first signs of colds, take oysters or try to take multivitamins high in zinc. It will decrease the duration of colds.


* Pump up your vitamin D. People with low levels of Vitamin D are more susceptible to catching colds. Vitamin D helps to regulate the immune system, increase calcium absorption and reduce inflammation. Multivitamins typically contain 400 international units of vitamin D, which falls within the current recommended daily allowance of 200 to 600 IU.

Drinking lot s of milk and eating fatty fish or having sunshine exposure early in the morning and late sunset can boost your vitamin requirement.