TISSUE OF LIES? Sifting the facts from the fiction to keep you cold-free in virus season

COLDS ARE MORE COMMON IN WINTER HIT X MYTH
The NHS has recorded the peaks of rhinovirus
(responsible for almost half of all cold infections) in April and May.
"It spreads through contact, not cold weather,"
says Professor Ron Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre
at Cardiff University. To send the virus packing
doforgetyourtoothbrush. "Virus-carrying mucus in your saliva
can remain active on your brush," says Eccles.
"Change it as soon as you begin to recover."

COUGHS AND SNEEZES SPREAD DISEASES Z HIT X MYTH
Lineker and Hansen are more likely culprits as reaching forthe
TV remote is a highly infectious activity. This is because the
rhinovirus is the MrTof virology: it doesn't do airborne. It's
only transferred through contact. When University of Virginia
researchers swabbed various household objects they found the
virus was present on remotes, taps and fridge doors 42%ofthetime.
Ifthere'sacold in the house, clean viral hotspots with disinfectant
wipes twice a day. "Forthat read any household object that'sused
often,"says Eccles. No need to worry about the iron then.

SUPPLEMENTS WILL HELP VHIT MYTH
There's plentyyou can do to stop the viral roller coaster afteryou've
been strapped in. Start by stocking up on zinc, which helps your body
absorb infection-fightingvitamin A. The University of Florida found a
daily 15mg reduced the duration of a cold from 10 to seven days in 73%
of people. Make sure you load up when symptoms first appear: runny nose
, sore throat, overwhelming desire to watch 24box sets.

VITAMIN CIS THE MIRACLE CURE HIT X MYTH
Mainlining OJ won't bolsteryour defences. A review of 55 studies by Australian and Finnish researchers fou nd even doses 30 times the R DA failed to provide extra protection. The herbal brigade have the upper hand here: Echinacea reduced incidences of cold by 65% in studies atthe University of Connecticut. Get yourselftothe health food shop for some flower power.

YOU'LL CATCH YOUR DEATH OF COLD HIT X MYTH
Anyone who's been out in Newcastle on a February night knows neither "not wearing enough" or "going out with wet hair" triggers a cold epidemic. This isn't down to a freak of Geordie genetics - being cold has no bearing on catching one. It's about the transfer of the virus, which can live for up to two hours on a smooth surface likeabar or pint glass. For extra insurance finish the night with a hot bevvy. "Viruses thrive in fixed temperatures," says Eccles. "Hot liquid increases internal temperatures in the nose and could kill off a virus." He suggests a soup nightcap. Not flaming sambuca.

MILK MEANS MUCUS HIT X MYTH

Pity the research scientist who got "snot measurement" on the job rota, but his sterling work published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition revealed that the amount of mucus produced in subjects infected with colds did not increase at all when they drank dairy. White Russians it is then.

KISSING SPREADS COLDS

HIT X MYTH

Colds are spread by mucus from your respiratory system and it's rare forthis to find its way into saliva. "Contamination is more likely to come from touchi ng a door handle someone with a cold has justtouched," explains Professor John Oxford, chair of the U K Hygiene Council. "Then you introduce the infection internally by rubbing your eyes or nose." The highest concentration of cold virus germs is found under fingernails so splash out on some scissors.

A SMALL TIPPLE IS MEDICINAL
VHIT MYTH
Historical cold remedies include "boiled willow bark" and "kissing the hairy muzzle of a mouse". We prefer the more scientific approach of two glasses of red wine everyday. A Spanish study atthe University of Santiago de Compostela concluded that people who took this prescription had 44% fewer colds than teetotalers. The preventative powers of plonk come from its antioxidants, which, says Professor Eccles, "boost the immune system."

THE OLDER YOU GET, THE MORE YOU SUFFER LI HIT X MYTH
The safest place to be, come cold season, is down the bingo. Oldies are almost totally immune thanks to a lifetime of hacking and sniffing. " Afterthe body's immune system finishesdealingwith acold it builds up an immune response specific to that particulartype of the virus, protectingyou from catching the same one again," says Eccles. At last count there were around 200 cold viruses, and on average we catch two orthree each year. So OAPs should have built up enough immunity to be virtually cold-free by the time they get their bus passes. Leaving them more time to gripe about "the language on TV."

CHICKEN SOUP SHOULD BE ON PRESCRIPTION "/HIT MYTH
The University of Nebraska Medical Centre recently confirmed what granny has always known. Analysing chicken soup revealed anti-inflammatory properties which helped combat the mucus misery. Boost your broth with garlic, which helps loosen your mucus and may have further anti-viral effects. Garlic and loose mucus-a combo even Nigellacouldn't pout at.