Exercise to fight the flu

Masterfile

Running out of sick days? Go to Pilates.

Regular workouts and meditation may be two of the most effective ways to combat the common cold and flu. It's not clear why exercising muscle and mind helps fend off flu bugs, but researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison believe mindfulness-based practices can reduce stress while routine gym sessions (45 minutes a day) strengthen the immune system.

In fact, they noted a 40 to 50 percent reduction in chest colds in regular exercisers.

Click here to learn how you can alleviate stress with exercise.