Well ’tis the season for lots of colds; winter time is just around the corner and it’s time to bundle up and start increasing your defense against those nasty, cold-causing germs. So why don’t we start with what we put into our body. Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietician and author of the book, The Flexitarian Diet, truly believes that what we put into our body can have a massive impact on our susceptibility to a common cold, the flu, or even worse, pneumonia. After doing a great deal of research, I have listed a few specific foods that Dawn Jackson Blatner, herself, has pointed out.

1. Eat lots and lots of garlic. Garlic contains a vital immune-boosting compound, precisely the compound that gives garlic its putrid odor. In fact, garlic fights off all types of germs, including bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic. Garlic has also been shown to decrease the rate of tumor growth and increase the longevity of every cell within the human body.

2. Use a dash of oregano in your foods. Oregano, to many scientists, is considered a “disinfectant” for the human body. That is because oregano contains many antioxidants, which help to fight off the many viruses and bacteria that cause illness.

3. Make great use of red bell peppers. Red bell peppers are rich in nutrients and phytochemicals, which are naturally immune boosting. In addition, red bell peppers also contain double the amount of Vitamin C of oranges. Scientific studies suggest that just eating Vitamin C-rich foods can reduce the duration of the common cold as well as reduce the severity of the symptoms.

Therefore, in order to reduce your probability of getting a cold this holiday season, or perhaps reduce the severity or duration of a cold that you may already have, consider integrating the foods listed above into your everyday diet. If you love pizza, this is easy! Pizza contains every one of the foods listed above. However, just be sure to include red bell peppers with the rest of the pizza toppings. Other than that, best wishes to you this holiday season!