Support OneGreenPlanet Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please support us! Support Us Coughing uncontrollably and having to carry around gobs of tissues is annoying. Not to mention not being able to breathe or sleep. You know the feeling of having a cold, and you know it’s no fun. Many people think getting a cold or two in “cold season” is a fact of life, something you just have to deal with — but is this really true? Advertisement NO! You can defend your body from colds and other illnesses by taking care of your immune system. And one great way to ensure your body is able to protect itself is to follow a vegan (or at least a plant-focused) diet. You may still get colds on occasion, but if you do, they will likely be shorter and less severe.