Before you decide on getting a flu shot (yikes!) take the proactive approach to the cold and flu season with these natural defense- mechanisms:

#1 Wash Your Hands: Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact.

#2 Don't Cover Your Sneezes and Coughs With Your Hands: Because germs and viruses cling to your bare hands, use a tissue, then throw it away immediately.

#3 Don't Touch Your Face: Limit contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth when you are touching children or other people.

#4 Drink Plenty of Fluids: Water flushes your system, washing out the poisons as it rehydrates you.

#5 Take a Sauna: According to some research, when you take a sauna you inhale air hotter than 80 degrees, a temperature too hot for cold and flu viruses to survive.

#6 Get Fresh Air: Indoor central heating can foster germs, and germs circulate in crowded, dry rooms.

#7 Do Aerobic Exercise Regularly: Exercise help increase the body's natural virus-killing cells.

#8 Eat Foods Containing Phytochemicals: Plants like dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits have natural chemicals to boost the immune system.

#9 Eat Yogurt: Researchers think the beneficial bacteria in yogurt may stimulate production of immune system substances that fight disease.

#10 Cut Alcohol Consumption: Heavy alcohol use destroys the liver, the body's primary filtering system, which means that germs of all kinds won't leave your body as fast.

#11 Relax: There's evidence that when you put your relaxation skills into action, your interleukins - leaders in the immune system response against cold and flu viruses - increase in the bloodstream.

Avoid the cold and flu at all costs. You'll feel healthy and your co-workers will thank you for not passing it on, causing them to miss work (uh, ok, maybe they won't be thanking you).