YOU wash your hands as much as a surgeon, and nearly as thoroughly, but sometimes it still isn’t enough to ward off colds and the flu. It’s time to attack from another angle.

    “Using hand sanitizer, regularly washing your hands, and avoiding people who are sick are the best ways to prevent against colds, but anything that boosts your immune system will make you less likely to become ill,” said infectious disease specialist Chia Wang, MD, of Virginia Mason Hospital and Seattle Medical Center, the United States.

    In fact, you can try these surprising strategies to give your immune system a leg up.

    1. Pop probiotics

    The beneficial bacteria in your gut play a role in keeping your immune system healthy, Wang explained. This year, scientists discovered some of the first strong evidence that probiotics — bacteria that help improve the balance of good to bad bugs in your gut — may help protect you against colds.

    In August, a study in the journal Clinical Nutrition provided evidence that probiotics may help healthy people avoid colds. In the study, 465 adults took either a probiotic supplement or a placebo for 150 days. People who took probiotics had a 27 percent lower risk of developing an upper respiratory infection during the study period.

    2. Drink red wine in moderation

    Although heavy drinking and binge drinking can impair your immune system, some research shows that moderate alcohol intake may protect against the common cold. A landmark study in the American Journal of Epidemiology looked at nearly 4,300 Spanish adults during one cold and flu season. People who drank more than 14 glasses of wine weekly had a 40 percent lower risk of coming down with a cold, compared to people who didn’t drink. Red wine was especially helpful, the study found. Beer and liquor didn’t offer any protection against getting sick.

    “Antioxidants help support the immune system, which is why antioxidant-rich red wine may have protective effects,” said Wang. “Antioxidants help to get rid of free radicals, which impair the ability of the immune system to work at an optimal level.” She also cautioned to avoid alcoholic beverages once you have a cold, since they can make you dehydrated.

    3. Exercise regularly

    A little bit of sweat now could ward off sneezing and sniffles later, studies show. In one experiment, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers had 149 adults ages 50 and older perform regular meditation, moderate exercise, or maintain their normal routine. The control group missed 67 days of work due to respiratory infections, compared with 32 days for the exercise group and 16 in the meditation group.

    Moderate exercise stimulates the immune system. Wang added that exercise may also protect against colds by decreasing stress, which has been shown to lower immunity.

    4. Take zinc

    Many people pop zinc lozenges or supplements in order to shorten the duration of colds. But zinc can also protect against developing a cold in the first place. A 2013 Cochrane Review of 18 studies concluded that taking zinc supplements for at least five months reduced bouts of the common cold. Supplements also relieve cold symptoms and shorten the days spent with a cold in adults.

    The study authors explained that zinc helps prevent the rhinovirus — the most typical cause of the common cold — from reproducing. Oysters are the food source highest in zinc, but since you probably don’t eat them every day, supplements may be the most effective solution.

    (SD-Agencies)