Agh the winter blues!! It always seems much harder to stay on a good, healthy track during the winter months? The sore throat, persistent cough, runny nose, fever, headaches and aching body tend to go along with the cooler months of the winter season.

If you are susceptible to colds or flu during winter then chances are your immune system is run down. Therefore it makes sense to boost your body's defences and stay as healthy as possible.

One way of limiting your chances of falling ill and support your immune function, is by ensuring an adequate intake of certain nutritional elements. So, keep yourself well in cooler times with these health-boosting tips.

Beyond its proven benefits in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, olive leaf extract is an excellent winter health tonic. Packed with active compounds, such as the powerful antioxidant oleuropein, olive leaf has strong antimicrobial properties, stopping cold and influenza viruses in their tracks.

It is also rich in immune-supporting nutrients like vitamin C, zinc, iron, selenium and beta-carotene. Take it daily to ward off winter illnesses or to relieve the symptoms of coughs, colds and flu.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant which increases anti-viral and anti-bacterial activity. It stimulates production of white blood cells to fend off unwanted pathogens especially when taken with Vitamin E.

Zinc helps destroy micro-organisms and protects against free radical damage all the while supporting white blood cell function.

Iron helps drive oxygen supply throughout the body, which in turn gives you energy and enables you to better concentrate.

Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that assists in eliminating toxins from the body.

Beta carotene is converted in the body to Vitamin A which is important in helping to maintain the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts thereby protecting micro-organisms from entering your body.

Rather than treat infections as they occur, see your health professional first and protect yourself through your diet to avoid the winter blues.

Be it coughs, sniffles, backache or simply the blues, addressing the above nutritional needs will help get you primed to fight off all that the chilly weather can throw at you.

From a FengShui perspective ensure that during the coming month you place a set of 6 metal coins or the Wu Lu (jade) in the southeast of your bedroom.