THE KEY TO PREVENTING a cold coming on this winter is regular exercise, according to researchers.

US researchers who conducted a study of 1,000 people told the British Journal of Sports Medicine that staying active almost halved a person’s odds of catching a cold or contributed to reducing the severity of an infection.

And even better news is that thinking you are fit is almost as beneficial in cutting your odds of getting a cold as actually doing exercise.

The BBC reports that the study’s participants were asked to record their coughs and sniffles for three months during autumn and winter, as well as their exercise habits.

Participants who were physically active on five or more days per week were down with a cold for around five days out of the three-month period, compared to nine days for people who did no, or only a small amount of, exercise.

The severity of a cold virus was also reduced by fitness.