6 foods to fight the flu and stay healthy naturally

It’s officially winter, and if you’re not already boosting your vitamin C intake and washing your hands (the boring advice still works!) it’s beyond time to get on that. But those aren’t the only ways to stimulate your immune system: Jumping on the treadmill can also help.

According to the preliminary results from Flusurvey, an online flu study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, doing vigorous exercise (think cardio or intense dancing) for at least 2.5 hours a week reduces your chances of catching a flu-like illness by 10 percent. (In other words, 100 cases per 1,000 people could be prevented.)

Tack on these immune-boosting foods, and you’ve got a solid plan to keep the seasonal bugs at bay.