Who’s up for a quick game of the college classic, ‘Would You Rather?’ Would you rather come down with a cold during week five of winter quarter or fail a class? Trick question. While getting sick halfway through the quarter might not cause you to fail a class altogether, it completely throws off your momentum. So, the next time you feel a tickle in your throat, avoid the inconvenience of a cold with these tips so it’s smooth sailing out of cold season.

Fill your socks with peeled onion layers

We know this might sound crazy, but this homeopathic practice really does do the trick. When applied to the skin topically, onions kill germs and bacteria; the phosphoric acid (the stuff that makes you cry when they’re cut open) enters the bloodstream, cleansing the blood and killing any germs and bacteria that may be in the process of getting you sick. So, at the first sign of a cold, cut an onion in half, peel the layers, and secure the wet side of a few to both feet with an old sock before you go to sleep. Do this for at least one night and you’ll wake up feeling better—albeit more pungent—than ever.

Work out

Studies have shown that aerobic exercise boosts the body’s defenses against viruses and bacteria. If you feel a cold coming on but you’re not quite to the sneezing-coughing-misery phase, hop on a treadmill at the Ritchie Center or even just walk around campus to stop your cold in its tracks.

Lose the booze

I know it’s college and some people go out more nights than they stay in, but if you’re sneezing one too many times, the last thing you need is a night cap. Alcohol disrupts your REM sleep, and when you combine sleep deprivation with a compromised immune system, there’s nowhere to go but down.

Nourish your body

You know why celebrities never get sick? No, it’s not because they’re immortal, it’s because they juice. People who juice to fight the common cold using the right ingredients swear by it to feel better quicker or experience less severe symptoms. Here’s an easy—and even tolerable-tasting—juice recipe to try the next time you feel a tickle in your throat:

•One red apple (cored, seeds removed, and skin left on)

•Six carrots

•Two celery stalks

•Two garlic cloves

•One-quarter cup fresh