5 Weird Things That Boost Your Immune System

It seems like everyone I know is sick right now. Of course this gloomy grey wet weather is not helping anyone's mood either anyway I stumbled across these 5 really weird things that supposedly boost your immune system...

BTW the only one I agree with is #3!!

1.  Placebos.  Taking a placebo can make you feel better even if you KNOW it's a placebo.  Researchers gave sugar pills to people during a study in 2010, and told them it wasn't real medicine . . . but it STILL helped their symptoms.

2.  Looking at pictures of sick people.  A study in 2010 found that your immune system gets stronger when you look at photos of other people coughing or sneezing.

3.  Petting a dog.  Which also gives your immune system a boost, according to a study in 2004.  And it doesn't even have to be a REAL dog.  It works with stuffed animals too.

4.  Keeping a journal.  Because you're less likely to keep stuff bottled up.  And when you don't talk or write about your problems, you get stressed out.  Which can WEAKEN your immune system.

5.  Having a doctor who feels bad for you when you're sick.  A recent study found that people with empathetic doctors had stronger immune systems, and their colds were shortened by a full day.