--- description: Look at pictures of sick people. Via The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature: Being exposed to... title: 10 Things That Will Prevent You From Getting Sick, Backed By Research image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt52a3d3128226e975/69877cff8e06019b1a45a102/135385333-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 10 Things That Will Prevent You From Getting Sick, Backed By Research by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 4, 2015 5:01 AM CUT  Sick man blowing his nose Sick man blowing his noseGetty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 4, 2015 5:01 AM CUT Look at pictures of sick people. Via [The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616144297/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616144297 "undefined"): --- > “” --- It’s legit. Here’s the study he’s referring to: --- > “” --- You looked at the picture above, right? Your immune system is already stronger. (You’re welcome.) There are a number of other simple research-based tips for staying healthy and dodging illness: * A dog can be [better for your health than a spouse](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-dogs-mans-best-friend "undefined"). Doesn’t even need to be a real dog: [Petting a stuffed dog has positive effects on the immune system](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-stuffed-animals-stop-you-from-getting-sic "undefined"). * Exercise [boosts immunity](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/nytimescom-does-exercise-boost-immunity "undefined"). * Stress [can make you sick](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-stress-really-make-you-sick "undefined") so know [what to do to reduce it](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/12-ways-to-eliminate-stress "undefined"). * Writing can [improve your immune system](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-not-talking-about-our-problems-cause-phys "undefined") and even [speed the healing of wounds](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-writing-speed-physical-healing "undefined"). * Get enough [sleep](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/why-do-some-people-get-sick-so-often-and-othe "undefined"). Seriously, sleep is a [miracle cure](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/should-you-go-back-to-bed "undefined"). Yes, I know you’re a [night owl](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/night-owls-vs-morning-people-who-comes-out-ah "undefined"). Fine, take a [nap](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-secret-to-amazing-naps "undefined"). * Get [happy](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-happiness-stop-you-from-getting-sick-can "undefined"). [Here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-seven-things-that-can-make-you-happi "undefined")’s how. Be [optimistic](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-optimism-associated-with-better-health "undefined"). Stop being [bitter](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-blaming-others-make-you-physically-ill "undefined"). * If you’re going to be seriously ill, do it now, [not in July](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/will-going-to-the-hospital-in-july-kill-you "undefined") and [never over a weekend](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/which-is-more-likely-to-kill-you-being-admitt "undefined"). * Go to a nice doctor [because they’ll heal you faster](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/nice-doctors-heal-you-faster-scientific-ameri "undefined"). * I can give you a prescription that will [reduce symptoms of illness](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-the-placebo-effect-work-even-when-you-kn "undefined"), [make other medication 4x as effective](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-makes-medication-2-4x-as-effective-addin "undefined"), improve [strength in the gym](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easily-get-much-stronger "undefined") and even [increase libido](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-an-over-the-counter-drug-that-succes "undefined")… It’s called [placebo](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-the-placebo-effect-make-any-sense-at-all "undefined"). Did I ruin it by telling you it’s not a real drug? No, because [placebos still work even when you know they’re placebos](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-the-placebo-effect-work-even-when-you-kn "undefined"). ### 7 Foods That Taste Better Now Than They Will All Year  Kale: The cold-weather king, bitter kale is made mellower by the bitter cold. It can thrive in temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, Casanova says. Getty Images  Brussels sprouts: If you still think you hate Brussels sprouts, try them now. They're sweeter than summer sprouts, she says. (Failing that, of course, try frying them with bacon.) Getty Images  Kohlrabi: "Cabbage turnip" in German, this knotty, weird-looking root vegetable is a survivor. "Kohlrabi does not like hot summer temperatures at all, but thrives in cool weather," Casanova says. "Transplants can be put out six weeks before frost with an expected harvest in only a few short weeks." Getty Images  Mustard greens: The peppery plant kicks its way through the winter, and always tastes sweeter when it's nipped by frost. Getty Images  Parsnips: Yes, even foods that aren't green can withstand the cold. The pale parsnip, which looks like a yellow-white carrot, is best harvested after a hard frost, Casanova says. Getty Images  Cabbage: It may look like a delicate flower, but some types of cabbage can survive temperatures as low as 26 degrees, Casanova says, making it ideal for a winter harvest. Getty Images  Collards: "They grow best in full sun, tolerate partial shade, are rich in vitamins and sweetened by frost," she says. Getty Images **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/10-things-you-can-do-to-stay-healthy-and-avoi/ "undefined")**_._** **J** **oin over 150,000 readers and get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** Related posts: [What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/ "undefined") [How To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple Emails](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/ "undefined") [4 Lifehacks From Ancient Philosophers That Will Make You Happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/ancient-philosophers/ "undefined") _Read next:_ [_Here’s How Much Experts Think You Should Sleep Every Night_](http://time.com/3691992/sleep-hours-recommendations/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3690655/prevent-getting-sick/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3690655/prevent-getting-sick/"},"headline":"10 Things That Will Prevent You From Getting Sick, Backed By Research","datePublished":"2015-02-04T05:01:13.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:49:44.284Z","description":"Look at pictures of sick people. 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