Five Weird Things That Boost Your Immune System

With flu season in full swing, here are five things you would not think would help out your immune system, but they do.

Full list can be found at Time.com:

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. 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.  That 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.

What things do you know about strengthening your immune system, let us know in the comments below.