Staying active each day can keep a cold at bay. A recent study from the University of South Carolina confirms what we already know – that exercise keeps you fit and helps prevent chronic disease. However, it has also shown something new: that exercise cuts your chances of coming down with the common cold. Researchers monitored the activity levels of over 250 women aged 40 to 50, for a year, and found that those who exercised moderately (which included everyday activities such as mopping floors, raking leaves and walking) for 60 to 90 minutes a day had a 25 per cent lower risk of catching a cold.