So cold and flu season is upon us...I've been taking vitamins like a crazy person to avoid getting sick; I even wear thick socks to bed at night to avoid being cold at all at night! Here are some foods that will also help prevent colds this winter...

Fish Oily fish—including salmon, tuna, and mackerel—are   rich in omega-3 fatty acids, compounds that help reduce harmful inflammation   in the body. Chronic inflammation prevents your immune system from working properly,   and can contribute to colds and flu as well as more serious diseases. Omega   3s may fight colds on more than one front. In a placebo-controlled 2011 study   published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity, medical students who took fish oil   supplements for three months had lower inflammation levels and also fewer symptoms   of anxiety—a condition that can itself weaken immune function.

Oysters Zinc, an essential mineral, has a strong   track record of fighting the common cold. A comprehensive review of the research,   published in a Canadian medical journal in 2012, concluded that taking zinc   lozenges appears to shorten the duration of cold symptoms in adults. Zinc supplements   carry a risk of side effects such as nausea and headaches, however. A better   bet, may be to get zinc straight from your diet. Oysters contain more of the   nutrient per serving than any other food—but if you're concerned about staying   healthy, you might not want to eat them raw.

Garlic These pungent cloves do more than just   flavor your food. Garlic also contains allicin, a sulfuric compound that produces   potent antioxidants when it decomposes. A 2001 study in the journal "Advances   in Therapy" found that people who took garlic supplements for 12 weeks between   November and February got fewer colds than those who took a placebo. And of   those who did get sick, those who took the garlic supplement felt better faster.   Garlic packs the biggest antioxidant punch when eaten raw. Flavor too strong   for you? Consider taking aged-garlic extract capsules.

Anise Seeds These licorice-flavored seeds, which   have antibacterial properties, have been shown to ease coughing and help clear   congestion from the upper respiratory tract. Anise seeds can be eaten (in rolls   and cookies, for instance), but for cold-fighting the delivery method of choice   is usually tea. According to the American Pharmaceutical Association's "Practical   Guide to Natural Medicines," a typical recipe is to add one cup of crushed anise   seeds to one cup of hot water, and flavor with sugar, garlic, cinnamon, or honey   (if desired). Sip this concoction up to three times a day.

Citrus Fruits Recent research suggests that vitamin   C may not be as useful in preventing colds as once thought. However, studies   do show that taking the vitamin at the first sign of illness may reduce a cold's   duration by about a day, which can feel like a lifetime when you're suffering.   Eating lots of citrus—whether that entails digging in to orange and grapefruit   slices, or using lemons and limes in recipes—will provide plenty of this powerhouse   nutrient. Don't worry about overdoing it, since it's very hard to overdose on   vitamin C. Anything your body doesn't use is just washed right out of your system.

Fennel Like anise seeds, fennel is a natural expectorant,   and can help clear chest congestion and soothe a persistent cough. The two foods   have similar flavors, in fact, and in supermarkets fennel is sometimes referred   to as anise, even though they're different plants. Fennel can be eaten raw or   roasted, but you may get the best cold-fighting benefit from drinking a tea   made from fennel seeds. Try Yogi Tea's Throat Comfort, or make your own with   1.5 teaspoons of fennel seeds and one cup boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes,   strain, and sweeten with honey to taste.

Yogurt and Kefir We usually think of bacteria   as a bad thing, but some of these microorganisms are essential for good health.   Eating probiotic foods, such as yogurt and kefir, is a good way to replenish   beneficial strains of bacteria, which promote digestive health and help prevent   stomach ailments. There are over 10 trillion bacteria living in our gastrointestinal   tract, so you want to make sure the good ones outnumber the bad ones.

Tea Everyone knows a steaming hot cup of tea can   help break up chest congestion and soothe a sore throat, but the benefits may   run deeper. All tea—black, green, or white—contains a group of antioxidants   known as catechins, which may have flu-fighting properties. In a 2011 Japanese   study, people who took catechin capsules for five months had 75% lower odds   of catching the flu than people taking a placebo. Need another reason to turn   on the kettle? Other research suggests catechins may help boost overall immunity,   rev metabolism, and protect against cancer and heart disease.