When it comes to avoiding the flu, you probably already know the main things you have to do: Wash your hands a lot, get a flu shot, and duck when someone's about to sneeze on you.

--But the website iVillage.com has a list of tricks you might NOT know about. Here are the top five weird ways to avoid getting sick.

#1.) Keep Your Feet Warm. Researchers think cold feet might cause the blood vessels in your SINUSES to tighten up. Which makes it harder for white blood cells to get to your mucus membranes. And that's where most viruses sneak in.

#2.) After You Wash Your Hands, Don't Dry Them with a Towel. This isn't the ECO-FRIENDLY thing to do, but you're less likely to get the flu from someone in your own home if you use PAPER towels.

#3.) Cut Your Fingernails. Researchers at the University of Michigan tested the nails of doctors and nurses, and found that you're more likely to have bacteria under them if they grow longer than three millimeters past the tips of your fingers.

--Only 18% of people with fingernails SHORTER than that had a significant amount of bacteria under their nails.

#4.) Take a Few Deep Breaths Each Day. You have to breathe in for three seconds from your diaphragm, so your stomach pushes out. Then exhale for three seconds, and do it three times in a row, a few times every day.

-If you make it a habit, some research shows you're less likely to get pneumonia.

#5.) Don't Get Drunk. One drink won't hurt. But too many can mess with your white blood cells' ability to fight off infections. And not just WHILE you're drunk. It affects your immune system for up to 24 hours afterward.