22 Million School days are lost annually to the common cold, and workplace productivity plummets when coworkers come to work sick and pass the cold or flu around.

Here are some tips to tell whether you have a cold or the flu:

With a COLD, you may sometimes have a low fever (less than 101) but suspect the Flu if your fever is over 102 degrees.

While a COLD will generally come on gradually over a few days and result in a sore throat and mild headache, the FLU generally starts suddenly and your body hurts all over.

A COLD will leave you tired, but you can usually manage your regular daily activities. The FLU results in extreme fatigue, often requiring bedrest.

Fresh fruits, veggies, lean meats and fish will do a body good year round, but certain foods will give your body's infection-defeating abilities an extra boost, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D. a member of the Family Circle health Advisory Board. Try some or all of these:

CARROTS: A diet rich in beta-carotene also found in bell peppers, kale, brocolli, sweet potatoes, and squash protects the lining of the nose, which traps germs before they can infect you.

GREEN TEA: Science backs up what tea drinkers have known for centuries: Going green keeps you healthy. In a study at the University of Florida, people who consumed two cups of green tea daily for three months had 32% fewer colds than those who didn't imbibe. "If you aren't crazy about the flavor, add a splash of 100% fruit juice," suggests Taub-Dix.

NONFAT GREEK YOGURT: This rich and tangy variety has three times more protein (which helps increase the number of immune cells in your body) than regular yogurt. It's also chock-full of immune-boosting live and active cultures.

SALMON: No doubt you've heard this food is a great source of heart-strengthening omega-3 fatty acids, but one serving also contains up to 1,000 IU of Vitamin D; a University of Colorado, Denver study found that upping your intake of the vitamin staves off colds.

GARLIC: A compound called allicin fights against bacterial, viral and fungal infections, says Taub-Dix. Plus, in a recent study, people who took a daily garlic supplement had 36% fewer colds over the course of a year than those who were given a placebo.

ARTICLE SOURCE: familycircle.com