Wondering how to stop catching colds? Try this new app.

Image: iStock.

There’s nothing pleasant about catching a cold, but one of the worst parts has to be not knowing when it’s going to happen.

As a result, we spend all winter feeling suspicious and assuming the worst. Someone sneezes on the bus; That’s it, I’m next. Your work neighbour’s eyes look more watery and red than they did yesterday; damnit, I’m done for.

We may never have a cure for this most common of ailments, but a new phone app that warns of impending colds and flus is a pretty decent consolation prize.

It's called Healthyday, and it could save you wasting all your money on tissues and Strepsils this winter. (Post continues after gallery.)

Tips to beat a cold

Good old chicken soup

Honey Citrus Mask.

Rest up

Hydration

Get steamy

Honey and lemon tea

Eat yo' greens!

Developed by a division of Johnson and Johnson, the app uses an algorithm — which is synced with self-reported data from nearby medical offices, Google searches, reports from other app users and mentions on social media — to provide basic health tips tailored to your area.

So if the sniffles are invading your suburb, Healthyday will send an alert and you'll be able to see where people are being affected and even what symptoms are being reported.

In that way it's kind of like Tinder for colds, the difference being that it probably won't improve your dating prospects. Although, to be fair, people are more likely to date you if you're not buried under a pile of snotty tissues, so it might help after all.

TRUST NOBODY.

Armed with this data, and some suggestions from the app, you can then take appropriate action (i.e. not leave the house unless strictly necessary) to ensure you won't suffer the same miserable fate. Ha! Take that, nasty cold virus.

The benefits don't end there. Healthyday can also let you know if pollen levels are triggering your peers' allergies, which will be very handy for hayfever sufferers come spring time.

"[The goal is] to really give you this idea for the first time, the honest to God answer to 'what's going around'?" Eric Weisberg, executive creative director at ad agency JWT New York, tells Mashable. (Post continues after video.)

There are more than 200 individual viruses (yes — TWO HUNDRED) that can give you the common cold, so seeing them all plotted on a map will probably stop you ever leaving the safety of your bedroom again.

You've been warned.

Have you had a cold this year?

A healthy diet is also important in protecting your body against the flu. Luckily that doesn't mean having to give up all your favourite foods (thanks science!).

10 foods you never knew were healthy

BreadKATIE THOMSITT, Dieticians Australia spokesperson says: "Lots of people shy away from bread to achieve weight loss. But bread is such an important source of fibre, and plays such a helpful role in weight loss and preventing bowel cancer. A couple of slices of a dark, seedy bread per day is absolutely fine."

CheeseKATIE SAYS: "Cheese is definitely a higher fat source of dairy, but still a good dairy fat. Choose low-fat options if you have it regularly, otherwise consume it in moderation. One serve of dairy is 30g, so a couple of slices is absolutely fine."

ChocolateKARA LANDAU, The Travelling Dietician says: "Studies have been able to show that dark chocolate can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce blood pressure in healthy individuals, protect against heart disease, and improve HDL good cholesterol (not a bad start for such a tasty food!). Dark chocolate also contains polyphenols, whilst white chocolate does not. These polyphenolic compounds are able to relax blood vessels allowing for better blood circulation, and thereby assisting with the maintenance of healthy blood pressure levels."

CoffeeKATIE SAYS: "Coffee is a really good snack, in particular if its milk-based to get the dairy in - for example, a skim latte. As long as its in moderation - daily guidelines say a maximum of three per day! And you want lots of water on top of that."

EggsKARA SAYS: "Yes, even the yolks are good for you! Healthy fat soluble vitamins, as well as half the protein found in an egg, are all found in the yolk!"

Avocado KATIE SAYS: "Avocado is a healthy fat. Lots of people think its high-fat and not good for you, but its rich in mono unsaturated fats, which give you protection against heart disease. It also helps with controlling lower cholesterol levels."

nutsKATIE SAYS: "Nuts fall into the same category as avocado - they have lots of healthy oils and fibre."

dairyKARA SAYS: "Often milk and yoghurts are fortified with Vitamin D (a fat soluble vitamin) which requires a small amount of fat to be present in order for the body to absorb it, therefore having the full fat variety can be of value to enhance the nutritional benefits from the products' consumption. The fat in the dairy also aids with satiety, which could prevent unhealthy snacking at a later point in the day."

PotatoKATIE SAYS: "Potato always gets a bad rap as a starchy vegetable, but it's an excellent source of fibre. Sweet potato in particular is great for weight management and sugar level control. Potatoes are also really rich in potassium."

Red meatKARA SAYS: People tend to restrict red meat unnecessarily, thinking that its high in saturated fat. "But lean red meat is high in protein, CLA (which has been found to be associated with lower body fat percentages), B12, iron and zinc. These are all nutrients we want to get into our body!"

Tags:

This app can tell you if you're in danger of catching a cold.

Tips to beat a cold

The Block Dramala

10 foods you never knew were healthy