There are still six more weeks of winter, so you know the cold season is in full swing. People pull all kinds of tricks out of their cold-fighting arsenals: some use vitamins, others use teas, and a few even head into hibernation until spring.

You may not realize that the best protection against catching the common cold may be as simple as changing one little habit: washing your hands.

Sound simple? Sure; but unfortunately, many people don’t wash their hands as often as they should. This means that germs that cause the common cold gather on all kinds of public surfaces that you use during the day. Touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after coming in contact with these surfaces can transmit these germs right into your body. Then it’s up to your immune system to try to fight them off.

Regular, proper hand washing with soap and water kills these germs and prevents colds and other illnesses from spreading. And it’s so easy! Just use warm water to lather your hands with soap for 15 to 20 seconds. Then rinse your hands thoroughly under warm running water. Don’t forget to use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door—you don’t want to pick up any new germs.

• Note: Despite what most people think, antibacterial soaps don’t offer any extra protection and may actually lead to more resistant strains of bacteria, so just stick with basic soap and warm water. It’s also a great idea to get in the habit of carrying alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you for when a sink isn’t available.

Give your immune system a break this cold season. Washing your hands frequently throughout the day is your best bet at keeping those sniffly, sneezy, coughy germs at bay.

As winter sets in and those long sunny days leave us, you might start craving carbs. Relax, this is natural. It relates to the drop in stored serotonin levels in our brain. As the levels fall, the body cries out for more (seretonin is the “feel good” chemical in you brain). Eating carbohydrates raise our levels of tryptophan, which increases our serotonin levels. The result is feeling more calm, having better sleeping habits and craving less carbs.

The trick now is to eat the right carbs. That chocolate chip cookie you’re eyeing up isn’t quite what I’m talking about. You need the low-glycemic index, complex carbohydrates that also have nutritional value, such as whole grains, raw fruits & vegetables, raw nuts, seeds and beans. These are the comfort foods that will give you the results you’re looking for.

So until those sunny days return, stock up on the good crabs to feel great all winter long!