研究人員發現，睡眠時間不足7小時的人士， 與安睡八小時以上人士比較，患感冒的風險將增加三倍。而睡眠效率低的人患病的可能性比普通人多達五倍。
另外，洗手有助於預防20％的日常感染(例如感冒)，和30％的腹瀉相關疾病。
免疫營養補充劑：
黑接骨木
研究表明， 黑接骨木果能夠預防病毒感染。其他研究發現對細菌感染也有類似的預防效果。
最近一項針對長途乘搭海外航班的澳洲人的研究表明，與服用安慰劑的人士相比，服用黑接骨木提取物可顯著減少感冒的持續時間和嚴重程度，減少程度達到一半以上。
紫錐花
該草藥用於感染，特別是細菌感染和敗血症等已有長遠歷史。
草藥學家建議使用相對高劑量的草本提取液 - 最理想是從感染一開始便使用， 然後每一至兩小時使用一次 ， 直至到病情獲得舒緩 。
維他命C
服用較大劑量的維他命C可減少感冒發生。
大多數有關維他命C預防感冒的研究大多採用每天一克的劑量，但研究人員最近發現採用更高劑量效果更好。
維他命D
一些研究發現血液中維他命D含量低與傳染病的風險和嚴重程度有密切關係， 這些包括兒童和成人的流感、呼吸系統疾病和免疫缺陷。
益生菌
益生菌產生有機化合物，增加腸道酸度;這抑制了許多引起疾病的細菌的繁殖。
益生菌還產生稱為細菌素的物質，其作為天然抗生素以殺死致病微生物。益生菌也有效提高白血球功能，來增強整體免疫功能。 當益生菌微生物組在你的腸道蓬勃生長， 便能形成一個完善抵禦感染和疾病的天然生化系統。
Please consider two of the most important ways to boost your resistance naturally: Get a good night’s sleep and wash your hands regularly. Researchers have found that sleeping less than seven hours triples your risk of catching a cold versus eight hours of shut-eye. People with poor sleep efficiency are more than five times more likely to get sick.
Meanwhile, hand washing helps prevent 20 percent of everyday infections like colds and 30 percent of diarrhea-related illness.
Supplements for Immunity
Elderberry
Research shows that elderberry is able to prevent viral infections. Other research suggests a similar benefit against bacteria.
In a recent study of Australians on long, overseas flights, taking elderberry extract significantly reduced the duration and severity of colds compared to those taking a placebo, cutting both by more than half.
Echinacea
This herb has a long history of use for infection, particularly bacterial infections and sepsis.
Herbalists use relatively high doses of the fresh plant tincture—ideally the root—taken every waking hour or two from the first tickle of an infection until it passes.
Vitamin C
Taking larger amounts of a vitamin C supplement may lead to shorter colds. Most studies examining the effects of the vitamin have used a dosage of 1 gram (g) per day, but researchers have recently found better results with higher amounts.
Vitamin D
Several studies link low vitamin D levels to an increased risk and severity of infectious disease, including the flu, respiratory ailments, and immunodeficiency for both children and adults.
Probiotics
Probiotics produce organic compounds that increase intestinal acidity; this inhibits the reproduction of many disease-causing bacteria.
Probiotic bacteria also produce substances called bacteriocins that act as natural antibiotics to kill undesirable microorganisms. Probiotic bacteria enhance overall immune function by boosting disease-fighting cells such as phagocytes, lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. The end result—when your probiotic microbiome is flourishing—is a system that is better able to fight off infection and disease.
