But you are smart. You know there is no cold and flu season. You even wonder why people talk about the festpool of germs that come out only during this "season". Germs don't come out in the summer-they go on vacation, just like everyone else. And in the springtime they're too busy raising their little germ babies to infect and feed on you. They're going to attack you during "the season".

So what is everyone getting so excited about during this "cold and flu" season? We all get excited about this season every year-like Christmas or your birthday coming around again.

I'll tell you why. To get you ready. To prepare you for battle against those pesky germs.

Here's what they say:

"A cold may last for about one week, but some colds last longer in children, elderly people, and those in poor health. In the United States, colds account for more visits to the doctor than any other condition, according to the CDC. Adults get an average of two to four colds per year, mostly between September and May. Young children suffer from an average of six to eight colds per year since the cold is highly contagious.

"Influenza - an infection of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus - is more severe than the common cold.?Flu illness impacts your daily life leading to school absents, days off from work and complications such as pneumonia requiring hospitalization."

Now, are you ready for the cold and flu season? And of course, their remedy is avoid contagious people (negative people?), wash your hands (not a bad idea), and yes, get the flu shot (this is how to get the germ directly into your body, past your natural defenses, to produce, yes, the flu).

But wait, here's the real story: Germs are opportunistic. They set up housekeeping in a host that is run down and cannot kick it out. They love a person with STRESS, who cannot rage an immune war against them.

Physical stress.

Nutritional stress.

Emotional stress.

The body has it's own immune system and cannot function well with these kinds of stress.

Colds and flus are sure signs of stress. Not sure about this? Think about the "cold and flu season" as a change in many events in your life. Weather, temperature, school or work functions, daylight, nightlight, food, are all fairly constant changes for most people during this time of the year.

But look at your many other personal changes: rest, sleep, hydration, exercise status, emotional status, and nutritional status. Are these all being attended to? These should be kept constant all year round. These are the elements that need attention for you to be well. When you are well, germs will pass you by and look for someone less well off to set up house.

The contagiousness of symptoms and disease has more to do with the HOST than it does with the microbe, the germ.

A problem with "catching germs" from someone sick is that most of the time they violate Koch's Postulates. Remember high school biology?

1.The germ which causes a disease must be found in every case of the disease under the conditions which could explain the disease.

2. The germ must not be found in other diseases or healthy people.

3. The germ could be isolated and used to induce an experimental disease in animals which resembles the original disease in humans.

You get a cold and flu because your body is run down with STRESS. Your drippy nose, watery eyes, coughs, muscle aches, tiredness, fatigue, and chest pain, are all signs of STRESS. Take the moment to look at your situation. You have violated one or more principles of health. Time to rest, eat better, avoid 'those people'.

Don't do the things that are unnatural for your body. You know what they are. Don't violate the rules of health. It's you; you're the host. Are you a good host?