THE weather has well and truly turned.
As of Friday, balmy autumn temperatures took a turn for the worst and plunged close to freezing in parts of the UK.
The first sprinkling of snow has been spotted, and woolly hats have emerged up and down the country for the first time since March.
As the temperature drops, fears inevitably turn to the coming onslaught of cold and flu illnesses – for those who aren't already fending one off.
So, why do we always get so sick at this time of year? And how do we fend off those pesky winter germs?
We spoke to some Dr Phillip Gould, a virologist from Coventry University, to find out how best to get through the upcoming cold season without getting too ill.
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Why do we always get so ill in winter?
Viruses and bugs are spread via the things we touch and the air we breathe.
And the way we live over the winter months makes it easier for those bugs to jump from person to person, explains Dr Phillip.
He tells The Sun: "When winter comes, we spend more time indoors in warm houses where viruses can thrive."
We also tend to surround ourselves with more people over the festive period.
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From the office Christmas party and a New Year's Eve bash to the annual dinner with extended family members and their new partners whose names you won't remember.
"We come into contact with many people in a very short time," he said.
Instead of abstaining from seeing people this winter, Dr Phillip suggests people focus on boosting their immunity, which tends to take a bit of a beating during the colder months.
Keep socialising!
It may sound counter-intuitive, but it's important to continue socialising and catching bugs to stay healthy.
"If you're going to a party with lots of people, there is a very high chance that someone there will be carrying a virus like cold or the flu, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go," Dr Phillip said.
"Exposing our immunity to viruses is the only way to make it better at fending them off so you're less likely to get ill in the long term."
Some people, and those with certain medical conditions, put them at increased risk of infections.
This includes the very young, very old and those with chronic illnesses.
If you or someone you live with is in this group, you should continue to take the necessary precautions to keep them safe, the doctor said, such as avoiding large groups of people and wearing a mask when that is not impossible.
Don't share food at parties
We all love a cheese board at a Christmas party.
But sharing foods and nibbles is to be avoided at all costs if you want to curb the dreaded winter vomiting bug, norovirus, that is.
"Basically, any food that involves you touching things that other people have touched and then touching your mouth, just steer clear of those," Dr Phillip said.
Norovirus is a highly infectious stomach bug that causes sickness and diarrhoea for up to three days.
It commonly spreads through food or water contaminated during preparation, or through contaminated surfaces and close contact with an infected person.
Take a multivitamin
In the past, we were all encouraged to take vitamin C tablets to avoid the common cold.
But Dr Phillip suggested taking an all-in-one multivitamin to fend off the pesky bugs this winter.
"You need to be consuming all the right vitamins and minerals to keep your immune system healthy and working properly," he said.
And while the best way to do this is by a balanced diet, the expert said a multivitamin could be helpful during the cost-of-living crisis when fresh fruit and veg can be expensive.
"You can buy really cheap vitamins from any high street shop for pennies, and this will do you a world of good over winter," he explained.
Moderate exercise
We're not saying it's time to start marathon training, but make sure you do move your body.
Try regular brisk walks with the dog, taking the stairs or going for a light jog with a friend, if that's your thing.
"Exercising regularly at a moderate level helps improve the immune response," the expert said.
It helps your white blood cells circulate and perform better, and there seems to be a positive effect on those cells that kill viruses – they work a little better.
Don't drink too much
Fear not booze hounds, your Christmas morning mimosa is not going to make you more likely to get ill this winter.
"In moderation, drinking is fine," the expert said.
At the same time, it's important to remember alcohol is a toxin which changes the way your body works.
"If you drink heavily consistently it will make your body less able to fight an infection," the virologist said.
If you do fall ill, we tested some popular cold and flu remedies to find out which one is the best.
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