For the next few months there will be a number of bugs making their way through the population. If you have kids or if you're someone who has to be around people most of the time then you're more than likely going to catch a cold or one of those bugs at least once this flu season.

It's not time to lose all hope just yet! There are a number of things you can do to prevent getting sick. Aside from washing your hands frequently, getting sufficient sleep and exercising consistently, there are things that you can do to boost your immune system giving you a better chance of fighting off infection. Here are six things you can incorporate into your every day life.

Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
Yep, you knew it was coming! From kale to kiwi, from blueberries to broccoli, get as many servings of fresh fruit and vegetables as you can. Now is a time where we naturally crave root vegetables and soupy types of meals so go with it and create vegetable soups, carrot soup, squash soup, curried vegetable soup, the list is endless. You can add fruits and veggies to every meal during the day, you can chop them up and have them for snacks, there really is no reason not to get something in somewhere. Fruits and vegetables naturally have a huge range of vitamins, minerals and immune boosting goodness.

If you can, kick the cigarettes
As an ex-smoker I know first hand how hard that can be but cigarettes practically crush your immune system making sickness inevitable. There's also the plus of things naturally smelling and tasting better, including yourself!

Ginger, Turmeric & Garlic
From ginger tea to a stir-fry packed with ginger and garlic to capsules, get some extra ginger, turmeric and garlic into your bodies. All three are considered superfoods, they are immune boosting, antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory and many, many other properties.

Kombucha and other fermented foods
Fermented foods and beverages are great for health. In our guts there are millions of bacteria that are essential to good digestion and our health. Foods such as kimchi, kefir and sauerkraut contain heaps of good bacteria that help your gut and your body.

Aromatherapy
While not something often we think of when looking into immune support, there are some essential oils that are known to work with our bodies and boost our body functions. We can incorporate aromatherapy into our every day lives by diffusion, combining it with a carrier oil and using it as a perfume or even massage. As with all essential oils, never ingest them or use them directly on your skin. When using essential oils on your skin use a carrier oil such as almond oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil or coco or shea butter. Oils known for boosting the immune system include bergamot, sandalwood, lemon and myrrh. Tea tree, rosemary and lavender are also great for immune support and relieve stress which can suppress your immune system.

Happy vibes
Believe it or not, studies have been conducted and concluded that optimism and positive emotions can boost the immune system. It can't help right? I once heard that smile are what makes the world go round.