Walk Away from a Cold

Looking for an all-natural way to prevent colds or flu? Exercise more. Given the myriad benefits of exercise, it may not come as a surprise that this "magic medicine" may help you fight off common infections.

Women who exercised five times a week for a year had fewer colds than another group who only stretched once a week, according to one study from The American Journal of Medicine. In another, from Scientific Reports, male mice subjected to regular intense exercise were better able to fight off infections than sedentary mice.

Exactly how exercise boosts your immunity remains a mystery, but there are a few theories, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Exercise raises your body temperature, which may stop bacteria from growing, and it also boosts circulation of infection-fighting white blood cells. It could also be that physical activity simply rids your lungs and airways of harmful bacteria.

There is some evidence that really intense exercise, like marathon running and hard-core gym workouts, can actually increase your risk for respiratory infections. So it's important to strike a balance.

A daily 20- to 30-minute walk or a leisurely bike ride a few times a week are two forms of moderate intensity exercise that appear to fight off infections.

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