How to Stop a Cold (or the Flu) Before it Starts

What works -- and what doesn't -- when it comes to revving up your immune system

Once you notice trees dropping their leaves, days getting shorter, nights getting darker, and the air feeling a little crisper, you can be sure of two things: Drugstore aisles will be crammed with cold and flu preventions, from echinacea to zinc. And "coffee talk" with friends, family, and coworkers will inevitably turn to how to prevent a cold or the flu – or even ways to steer clear of the latest virus.
Seems like everyone has his or her own method for preventing colds and flu, from simple rules like never leaving the house with wet hair, to more deliberate methods such as:

• Taking a special combo of vitamins and minerals
• Sipping an effervescent vitamin drink
• Getting a daily dose of an herbal remedy
• Loading up on garlic

You know that taking steps to protect your immune system is wise. In fact, doing so can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger. But on the flip side, taking unnecessary vitamins and supplements can make your RealAge almost 2 years older.
So with cold and flu season right around the corner, it's important to know which, if any, supplements can really help prevent a cold or the flu. Take our quick interactive quiz and find out how to stop a cold in its tracks.

What really keeps cold and flu bugs at bay?

1. Your neighbor is an avid skier and swears that taking vitamin C every day keeps her healthy and on the slopes. She also claims it will help keep you cold-free. Is she right?

• Yes
• No
• Maybe

The correct answer is:

Maybe
It depends on how active you are. Despite long-held beliefs linking vitamin C and cold prevention, the only people for whom a daily dose of vitamin C has proved to reduce the incidence of colds are those who regularly engage in strenuous outdoor activities in cold climates.
2. You saw a woman at the health food store stocking up on echinacea and overheard her tell her friend that it's a cold's worst enemy. Is it?

• Yes
• No
• Maybe

The correct answer is:

Yes and No
This herbal remedy has not proved effective at preventing colds, but it may be helpful in treating them.
3. You clipped a coupon from the local paper for a new probiotic supplement. Could this be the answer to preventing colds and the flu?

• Yes
• No
• Maybe

The correct answer is:

No
Probiotics are the latest buzz in the nutrition world, and although the latest studies show they may help to shorten the duration of a cold, they don't seem to prevent them.