I am a kidney plant patient, susceptible to germs due to low immune system medication, I rarely have flue due to 2 things I do,
1 - Nose clean with water at least 5 times a day
2 - whenever sneezing, nose congestion , I rub inside nose with VICKS gel, thanks GOD

2-3x warm lemon water a week after you get out of bed and before you do anything...staf yourself with with pure unflavored water as much as posible and if you want to sneeze /what is totally normal for 3-10x a day/ go to secluded area or just turn back take a deep breath-in close the mouth and sneeze "on full power" while send the air out over the nose....all sign of thingling nose dissapear ...virus or bacteria will hardly ever get in ....never stop or quiet the sneeze in progres.... no colds for a very long time-no flu even longer...

Having a shower once a week?!?!? Are they kidding?? Is this a person who lives alone in a shack in the woods? Because seriously, who would want to be around you, never mind sleep in the same bed! Yuck!! Please, please, you need to bathe daily. If your co-workers haven't told you, then somebody should for God's sake.

Good grief, a cold is caused by a virus, not an uncovered head....duh! I rarely get colds and have no idea why, nor do I care. Life is far too short to obsess over things like this. Do everything in moderation and just enjoy life. If you believe everything that is out there, you shouldn't eat or drink anything at all. I despise people who believe that scaring people over things like this is the proper way to go.
I will not wear a hat, but I do have a hood on my coat that I use frequently when the weather is bad. Hats severely irritate my ears causing them to burn.
Whatever happened to just good old common sense?
People who rarely get sick are probably blessed with a stronger immune system.

Sounds like an advertisment for Ester-C!!! Sillies...just for the record...vitamin C doesn't do that much to keep us from getting sick....scurvey? yes.....cold and flu?...no!!!

If you want a real trick that works...try ZINC!!! 50mg a day and you'll boost your immune system tons!!! Plus eating a healthy diet free from most junk foods and pop never hurt either!!!

I take "Ester-C" 1000mg tablets; one tablet a day for "maintenance". I'll take up to 1 tablet 4 times a day if i'm starting to feel the onset of a cold or if i'm already sick (cold is gone within 3 days). It also has a special formula that makes it easy on the stomach.

I am trying to learn the causes of sicknesses and what I can do to prevent them from happening. My "secret" is to keep a one page summary of what I believe will affect whether I will get sick or not. This list is updated whenever new information is discovered. The list is a constant reminder to take care of my health. It is still a personal experiment and might not apply to everyone.
Part One of list contains foods that promote inflammation and sickness i.e. polyunsaturated oils, wheat, fructose etc.
Part Two is lists of foods that promote health ie. saturated fat. meat, eggs, fermented foods etc.
Part Three is a list of symptoms from eating too many foods from Part One i.e. heart disease, arthritis , cancer, obesity, diabetes, leaky gut,etc.
Part Four is a list of bad dietary and medical advice i.e. saturated fat is bad, cholesterol is bad, eat margarine, eat a low fat hifh carbohydrate diet, there is a pill for everything, etc.

My belief is that how you treat your gut will determine whether you get sick or not.
My latest discovery is the importance of gut bacteria and their relationship to the immune system.

you mose certaintly can get a cold in the winter without a hat on a windy day lynda which when i read this with a chuckle because i forgot my hat one day got a cold along with a earache which common sense is wear a warm hat on a cold wonter walk .and warm booties lynda dont you think in nursing they would not stress this to their clients anywhere in our climate that we have in ontario,go up north see if you need a hat there right now.flu shots do not stop people from getting colds they only prevent the flu symtoms was getting worse.so take vitamin c hot teas and dress in layers and wear a hat.there is nicer styles of hats now so people dont have to look like old mother hen.actually look at the new princess wow that sure brought in the newer looks for the climate changes.i wonder how many ear infections they get there.common sense for common colds people and take that warm thermos to the rink and a pack of kleenex.

I never get sick. I have no special secret. I don't watch what I eat (I only eat meat and green veggies). I am not afraid of germs. I let sick people cough and sneeze on me. I drink the tap water in Mexico. I just don't get sick. I would never get the flu shot. I also do not get infections. If I cut myself , I never clean the wound, no matter what. I never take antibiotics, EVER!

hello " Charlie Battel on" to answer your question about 'Alfred E Neuman's'
wellness, please note. the author subsidized the reprinting of a book that
he gave credit to, for helping his family maintain optimum health. this very
wealthy fellow did it to make this information available at a very low price.
the book is 'The Pulse Test' by Dr. Coca. it teaches a 'do it yourself routine'
to quickly heal self and others. it is available for a few over the internet
and you may also find a free Ebook download like i did, to pass along.
anyone with the time can research 'AdamDreamHealer' and 'Ronnie Hawkins'
cure. it is nice to be able to wave your finger and cure another's body.
love all - jim

Love some of the viewers ridiculous comments;
1. I take a shower once a week!
2. Musterbate for excercise, lol
3. Wash your hands constantly?
4. I carry sanitizer everywhere.
5. Avoid people with pale complection?
6. Don't eat out because it's really BAD, lol.
7. Pray to god because it gives your heart a rythm?

Here is the real story behind flu/colds;

1. It's a virus which spreads thru air. There is no cure, no immunity, no defence. The only reason you haven't had one, is because you just got lucky, nothing else.
2. You don't need any PALE complection person to cough on you. Virus is air borne!!!
3. Hands washing does absolutely nothing, except drying out your skin and adding more toxic chemicals onto your skin.
4. Eating out could potentialy make you obese, but it's not bad for you when you eat smart.
5. Musterbating is for pleasure not for exercise. This guy must have hairy hands by now, lol.
6. Praying does not regulate your heart rythm, that is absolute nonsense. There had been some studies on this phenomenon, but like all studies of this nature, inconclusive.
7. Taking a shower once a week! The person that does that is absolutely disgusting. Poor personal hygienne used. Can't even imagine the smell comming from that individual.

The real facts are; No human has immune system that can destroy flu virus. There is no cure for flu/cold virus.
The air in your home is up to 10X more dirty that outside air.
Always air out your home, summer or winter, for atleast 30 minutes daily. Get rid of stale, polluted air traped in your home. Most of the runny noses are from dirty air which causes alergies.

I have to agree with Brandon. I don`t get sick either mainly because I don`t want to. I eat anything I want..sometimes it`s even green. My eyesight isn`t what it used to be. It`s simply mind over matter, and I don`t doubt my Will at all. I know it will handle anything it comes into contact with.

Well, I guess some people have their strategies worked out but you'll never catch me dipping my face in a hydrogen peroxide bath or taking a cold shower in the middle of winter. Eating the right foods in the right quantities and perhaps using nutritional supplements as appropriate makes perfect sense, although following the latest nutrition research can be confusing.

I think that much of what Lynda wrote in her earlier comment hits the mark on disease prevention. In addition, I would say that I like using a neti pot with a mild saline solution, and try to get enough sleep on top of eating well and being mindful of stress. We modern humans also frequently try to tough out the beginnings of a cold rather than just packing it in and getting the rest and fluids that we need to recuperate. It's too bad that not everyone can afford to take time away from work or family responsibilities to make this very sensible choice, but it's so much better than risking infecting others and extending the whole painful experience of being ill.

You forgot mind over matter. I very rarely get sick..haven't had the flu in about 25 years, and I don't get the common cold either. Most people, when they come in contact with someone who is ill, says something to the effect of " Great..now I'm going to get it too" They have pre-dispositioned themselves to allowing they will get sick, and therefore, they do. When I come into contact with someone that is ill, they usually say "don't come too close, or you will get this" to which I reply "No I won't" This usually garners the "how do you know" reponse, and my answer is always " because I have decided that I will not get it. I don't have the time or the patience to get sick, so I am not going to"
I have NEVER had the flu shot, and never will. I also do not follow any of the secrets listed above.
I have complete control over my body, and if more people realized that they can control illness simply by believing, less people would be sick.
I know this is just my opinion, but it works for me!

Not sure which was more amusing, the actual posts or the crazy comments (of which I am now contributing to) Sounds like a crap shoot to me. "Stick your face in a sink of dilluted hydrogyne peroxide and blow bubbles out of your nose?" SERIOUSLY?? I can't believe someobne would do that let alone you printing it in your article. I like the 70 and then they give you a list of do's and don't's.... Doesn't sound like much fun (well except maybe the sex idea -but no smoking afterwards) This article would have been better if it were featured on a Humour page rather than "Best Health"... Hydrogyn peroxide....HA, still laughing about that one

Well, these things don't even make sense! I honestly don't think the majority of people who don't get sick do these things!!! Only a few.

I agree with the positive "self talk". I have telling myself and other people I never get sick, and I never do. The brain is more powerful than any of these mentioned remedies but it takes time - you have to completely get rid of all your self doubt and believe in what you think and what you say.

I haven't had a cold for a number of years now, and the flu even longer. When I go out, I am very conscious about not putting my hands to my face. I wash my hands frequently. And I also brush my teeth with Colgate Total, which kills bacteria for 12 hours. My thinkng is that if some germ enters through my mouth that maybe it will kill it?? Who knows? And I use a Saline spray in my nose, twice a day. I watched a program once where a nurse was saying that it flushes out the nose and could possibly help in avoiding a cold. Seems to be working so far.

To the person that said that they got a cold from going outside without a hat.....NOT POSSIBLE.

I watch what I eat, exercise and live what I consider to be a balanced life. I'm healthy and not totally immune to a passing cold once in a blue moon.

Over the years I have read a lot about healthy living and eating, so It was amusing to read 5 secrets to never getting sick. This total bull and only intended to help with the book sales. Marketing campaign. Please don't listen to this, just use your common sense to eat well, exercise and live a happy and fulfilling live.

Who writes these things? I barely ever get sick, and I never do these things...

There is an easier way to avoid dry skin. Instead of taking a cold shower everyday, don't take a shower at all everyday. A shower once a week is ample for your body. Too much washing is the number one cause of dry skin.

Top two secrets to not getting sick. #1) wash your hands a lot! #2 constantly tell yourself and other people that you never get sick. The mind is an amazing thing that can be harnessed. I cant remember the last time i was legitimately sick. Ive been saying i dont get sick since i was like 12 years old. works for me.

Have never read such complete nonsense except for hand cleansing. Take 2000 IU of Vit D-3 every day, always carry a hand sanitizer, and use often if you have been touching public objects.

- wash your hands OFTEN, during the day. Avoid sharing multi-use cups, plates, keyboards, handles...

- keep "lean" red meat in your weekly diet, as well as chicken, caffeine, eggs, fruits, veggies

- drink water and alcohol in moderation "daily"

- keep your home, surrondings warm, sleep well

- light exercise includes self-masturbation, if no option

- avoid person's with a cold, sniffles, sudden weak /pale complexion

- keep stress in check and believe in the faith of your almighty to help you in life

Geo. Burns "may have" eaten a low calorie diet?, since he is dead it cannot be verified, but he did smoke "3 stogies per day," anyone suggesting that might have prolonged his life? It is as valid a conclusion because the stogies at least are fact.

I too find the things in the article somewhat useless. I would like to share something that I have noticed in the last few years. I started drinking a lot of water - about 2 litters per day. Of course, that means several trips a day to the washroom and of course washing my hands several times per day. Since then, I rarely if ever get sick. All the articles on cold and flu prevention mention the importance of hand washing. With my experience, I believe it!!

Stay well everyone.

I'm dead so I never get sick either.

I rarely get sick, and I follow almost none of those rules. I don't think I've had the flu in almost 8 years. I don't smoke, and I do try and go outside a little bit during the day, even if I am only walking from work to my vehicle. Rarely do I get to exercise though between being a full time student and working. I eat red meat every day, processed or not, and at dinner I always have at least one type of meat with noodles, potatoes, or rice, and a vegetable. I do not follow any religion, and I am pretty much apathetic towards any sense of belief system. I do read a lot, and can spend what few hours I have in front of a computer, or with my nose in a book. My husband is the same way, and he is sick even less than I am. I think, rather, listen to what your body needs. You can feel if there is something missing from your diet, or lifestyle, most of the time through your cravings, or aches and pains. Live your life as you feel, get the vitamins you need, and be happy. That's what I do.

Nightrider: You are full of it. or alzhiemers is setting in. NEVER had a cold? Right...Never been exposed to "enviromental" smoke? Do you live in a cave in northern saskachewan? That would explain the "no resturants" those sneaky so&so's, making their food taste good...how dare they? You left out "never travel", since eating in a resturaunt is pretty much a necessity when traveling.
Your "common sense" solutions may make for a long life...a loooong DULL life! Can't argue with #7 though; You got me there.

In my opinipn the best Defence against getting a cold is to wash your hands constantly, especially before touching your face or eating anything that you might touch. I think getting a good nights sleep helps a lot too.

Everything mentioned in this post and from what others have said regarding a common sense attitude is still not enough to explain why some get sick and some don't. All things suggested will either boost or inhibit your immune system, but what is the baseline function of the immune system? What controls it's function? Of course it is the nervous system, and with a weak nerve system, a weak immune system will follow. So it the nerve system dictates the function of the immune system, does it make sense to boost the immune system with x, y, z when the problem lies with an inhibited nerve system? No! This is why some of you have tried remedy after remedy and still haven't been able to prevent the common cold.
What's the solution? If the problem is a weak nervous system, there is a high probability that you have subluxation, which is interference to nerve system function. Only your Chiropractor can correct this, so set up an appointment and get checked today!

Wow! For the majority of us the lifestyle change that Gene recommends would be dramatic. In other words, "Nah, that's not for me."
So simple, so true and so widely ignored. Perhaps we should all ask ourselves what Alfred E. Neuman (always so healthy looking) did, "What? Me worry?"
Imagine what the pharma companies and GP's would have to diversify into to stay in business?
I'll have another helping of potatoes, prime rib, and gravy as soon as I finish this cigarette....... and nah to the spinach salad.

i rarely get sick - i was the only one in a household of 6 who didn!t have a flu shot and the only one who didn!t get the flu-- i gargle one peroxside lid and one lid of water every day and swab my nostrals every day during flu season

Dunk your head in Hydrogen Peroxide? Is this "article"/book serious? I also noticed a LOT of "might"s and "may"s, which is a dangerous thing when you're giving health advice. If you aren't certian of the advice you're giving, don't give it.

I have never been sick - even a single day of my life. That means no colds or sniffles or any of the ailments. I am 70 and proud of this fact. During my annual check up my doc was ecstatic that my results are that of a teen ager. How is this possible you ask? Simple common sense.

1. Stay positive. When stressful situations occur, be cognizant of that and find a counter balance immediately.

2. Eat right. Control the portions. And, exercise every day. If you catch yourself sedantic and staying in one place for more than 2 hours - get up. Do a 10 minute vigorous exercise.

3. Do breathing exercises. Air is free. Most of us do not use this free stuff. Fill your lungs with clean air every morning as soon as you get up.

4. Never smoke. Do not even be in an environment of smokers. This includes smoke from fire place at home, candles lit in a church or home - smoke from factory furnaces or smoke stack. Try to do a clean living.

5. Have God in your life. You may or may not believe in Him. Either way is OK. But concentrating on something like that helps your heart's rhythm. You do prayers for your own good and not get fanatic and go overboard with rituals.

6. No red meats. No prepared or processed foods of any kind. Eat a lot of vegetables and lentils. Cut back on all whites: Sugar, Salt, Bread, Rice.

7. Have sex with your loved one - significant other - at least once a week. Make a passionate love.

Lastly, NEVER - I mean NEVER - eat out. Restaurants are garbage. This is a rash statement I know. But face it, they are in business to make the food taste extra good. So, they use a lot of additional things in the food that you will not even think of using at home.

This is it. You want to live a healthy life? It is basic common sense.

I rarely have colds or the flu, which I attribute to going outside every day and moderation in most things, but if I do --I just live through it and assume I'm creating antibodies against another one. I catch up on napping and reading --it's not so bad :)

I find the best way to avoid colds is stay clear of the people who have them ..there are some ppl who get colds and others don't catch it from them and there's the one person who gets it and bang you got it too .. drink lots of hot toddy's ..this will help too ..eat lots of spicy foods and hot peppers ...

I never get sick and my wife can't figure it out. I dont have cold showers or any of that stuff this web site says. I eat whatever I want and i dont gain a pound and I dont get sick. My wife and I have been together a year and a half and she has only seen me sick once. I have had my job for 3 years and I think I have only phoned in sick twice at the very most. Maybe sicknesses know that I dont like them or something I dunno. I dont think you need to follow these 6 steps to not get sick. I think ya just need to just not get sick, like me

This is " hodge podge, old wives' tales " type of a book. I would not spend a single cent on it. I am one of those people who never gets sick and I relied on my own common sense to get this way :

a) Exercise EVERY SINGLE DAY
b) Eat small, controlled portions ( not amounting to more than 1200 - 1500 calories a day ).
c) I only eat fish, all the veggies, fruits, whole grains, tofu, seaweed, beans I can get my hands on.
d) I avoid red meat, pork, dairy.
e) I avoid all processed foods. If I like something, I will make it, regardless if I don't have a lot of time or not, I will find ways to make it from scratch, from fresh ingredients.
f) Drink lots of water.
g) Travel extensively and REALLY enjoy every single moment of it.
h) Read, write and photograph extensively to exercise the brain.

That's it....Simple, pure, common sense.

I found the article mildly amusing, but the comments were much better. I don't do any of the things she lists in the article and I rarely, if ever get sick. I do have a few simple lifestyle and diet 'rules' for myself but they are nothing like the ones she lists. I couldn't imagine sticking my head into a sink filled with diluted hydrogen peroxide - perhaps this article should best be re=printed on April first.

Funny. I don't do any of these things and I "don't get sick"

The only thing dunking your head in an anti-bacterial solution will do is REDUCE your immune system. Hydrogen peroxide may be good for disinfecting immediate and infected wounds, but it's not a good thing to continue to cover your wounds in; it dries it out making it take LONGER to heal. The thing about antibacterial soaps and gels is that they dry out your skin, remove protective oils and kill off beneficial bacteria, making you more prone to bacterial infections, viruses and disease. What I would recommend for boosting your immune system is not only the pH diet mentioned in the article, but a high intake of garlic and American ginseng (not to be confused with the ginseng native to Asia), as they help boost your immune system. Oranges are also supposed to keep vitamins and minerals in your body, so they are incredibly beneficial through flu season. Spicy foods and iron are always good because they keep your blood rich and able to do its job: delivering nutrients to your muscles, organs and brain! Exercise is another great way to keep a strong immune system. Remember that multivitamins shouldn't be relied on for vitamin intake because they are synthetic, so your body doesn't know how to absorb them nearly as well as if you just ate the foods that contained the nutrients, therefore you're only absorbing a tenth of what you should be. A great diet balancing agent is bee pollen (and royal jelly), they are bee products and work wonders for your immune system and stamina (as well as a million other benefits!!). When you do get sick, make sure to take echinacea pills if you have a cough or drink the tea if you have a sore throat. You can find either of these at most grocery stores or at health food stores. Try boiling fresh thyme in a pot of water; it disinfects the air of your house, helping you recover faster! Anyway, stay healthy and have a great winter!

I never get sick. I am 50 and have not been sick in 30 years. My solutions is first and foremost to tell yourself and everyone who will listen that you never get sick. Then the most important part you must believe it. Of course I also take Royal Jelly which is loaded with B vitamins.

I live in Canada too, but it isn't cold 9 months of the year like it is where you are. I find it ironic that you dispute '4 of 5' of the 'secrets', while you claim you became sick because you didn't wear a hat? That is also one of many false old wive's tales.

Note to self. Secret to good mental health - don't bother reading Best Health Magazine.

I am really upset that you would even print such rubbish ... have a COLD shower? Where do you think we live? I live up in Canada, & it's bloody COLD here almost 9 months of the year ... we spend all our time trying to stay warm. I didn't get a cold or the flu for 9 1/2 years, but got one this Fall 2010 because I went out in the cold without proper head covering. The only point in your 5-point guide to avoiding getting sick, was the point about eating a balance pH diet, which has considerable scientific backing. While the people who claim that they never got sick by following the points you have listed, you have to keep in mind that these are probably people who are very rare exceptions in the human population, & not the majority. Four out of the five points are just dangerous nonsense, & I hope no one out there who reads your stupid points doesn't get pneumonia & sues you for causing them harm!

Don't bother reading this article. It is full of "mights" and "maybes" and the suggestions are based on anecdotal evidence and spurious studies.