5 Ways to Beat Colds and Flu

Sure, it's not yet Labor Day, but cold and flu season will be in full swing before you know it, something I've been aware of because I've been struggling with a fierce virus for the past week or so which has given me one of those nasty coughs that make the people around me recoil in terror. But before you stock up on hand sanitizers and fizzy immune-boosting powders, there are a few things you should know:

1. "Washing your hands with soap and water is just as effective as hand sanitizer at killing bacteria and viruses," says Dr. Michael Schmidt, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina (who I also quoted yesterday on how to pick the right multivitamin). And tap water is cheaper than those bottles of gel, though Schmidt adds that alcohol-based sanitizers (such as Purelle) are a good option when you can't make it to the bathroom to wash up. 
2. On the subject of hand washing, did you know that water temperature doesn't matter?  Water hot enough to kill most viruses and bacteria would burn your skin, so leave the water cold and use the time that you saved waiting for hot water to give your hands a vigorous rubbing under the tap. Instead of trying to kill the bugs just focus on getting them off of your hands and down the drain, with cold water, (ideally) soap, and a vigorous rubbing.
3. Avoid hand soaps and foams labeled "antibacterial." They usually contain a hormone-disrupting chemical called tricolsan which the FDA has placed under review, plus experts say they may contribute to the development of drug-resistant pathogens.  (Alcohol-based sanitizers, such as Purelle, don't carry those risks).
4. Another thing you might be able to save money on: Immune-boosting powders and potions. A couple of years ago the makers of Airborne, one of the most widely-known immune boosting formulas, admitted that there is no clinical proof that their product works as promised, and agreed to pay $23 million to settle a class action lawsuit over the matter. That said, I swear that Airborne really does help me ward off illness if I take it as soon as I feel a sore throat coming on. To this Schmidt says: "You cannot discount the placebo effect. Your state of mind does have an effect on your immune system." So if you truly believe that taking these supplements helps you stay healthy, they might just be worth the expense.
5. Pop vitamin D. Although vitamin C has an age-old reputation for fending off illness (and there's some evidence that it works, though not miraculously), a growing body of research indicates that vitamin D is probably more crucial to a feisty immune system. For more on vitamin D and how to pick the right supplement, see my recent post on the topic.

What do you do to stay healthy during cold and flu season?  Are you a fan of Airborne, like I am, despite what the critics might say?  Do you have any other immune-boosting secrets to share?