Do you ever wonder why some folks sail through the cold season without a sniffle while others seem to catch whatever bug is in the air? How is it that we are exposed to the same germs and yet some repeatedly are felled with colds and flu symptoms while others appear to be immune?

The answer to staying healthy is having a strong immune system. What you have in your fall and winter medical cabinet can help you build disease-proof resistance.

"If your immune system is well nourished and healthy, it will withstand challenges a lot better," Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., a nationally known board-certified nutritionist and expert on diet and weight loss, tells Newsmax. "Those of us lucky enough not to get sick stay healthy because our immune system is able to bat the challenges aside. Or, at the very least, handle it and recover quickly."

While Americans prepare for the hectic holidays and cooler months ahead, Bowden suggests rearranging and restocking your medicine cabinet now, before a family member gets sick.

"It's better to have the most effective remedies already on hand," he says.

Start by doing the following:

• Choose a cool, dry storage place. "Many products degrade when exposed to humidity and warm temperatures, so ideally you should store supplies outside the bathroom itself if you tend to take lots of hot, steamy showers," says the expert.
• Check expiration dates of items your have on hand. "Toss any expired items," advises Bowden. "Most pharmacies offer safe medication disposal."
• Safely secure all medications and supplements if there are young children in the house. Lock these products in a high shelf or cabinet, says the expert.
• Carefully review all labels. "Some products, including over-the-counter or OTC drugs, may have warnings regarding their use in those with serious medical conditions such as heart, kidney, or liver disease," he says. "If you have any questions about possible drug interactions with the medications you take, check with your doctor or pharmacist."
• Read the dosage instructions. "Some products for children are dosed by weight and age, while other products may be unsafe for kids," says Bowden.
• Stock Sambucol black elderberry supplements to fight the common cold. Bowden swears by its effectiveness and its remarkable ability to boost the immune system. There are delicious gummies for kids, too, that are gluten-free and don't contain nuts, soy or dairy.
• Use sprays with echinacea to soothe sore throats. "Buckwheat honey is also excellent for lubricating a dry, scratchy throats," notes Bowden.
• Keep Aged Garlic Extract, or A.G.E., on hand for both colds and flu. "Garlic has been used since ancient times to ward off colds," he says. "I don't recommend wearing it around your neck, but supplementing your diet with garlic or garlic supplements may help keep those nasty germs away."
• For nausea and upset stomach, Bowden recommends another time proven product: ginger. "Studies have shown that the very potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols found in ginger can help relieve motion sickness, dizziness, nausea, and gas as well as soothe in the intestinal tract." You can use fresh ginger in cooking or supplemental ginger in chewable form  and gummies found in pharmacies and health food stores.