Would you like to avoid getting sick? Pick a fight with your spouse...

Don’t suppress that next spat with your spouse – bring it on!

Just set a timer first. That argument could actually help protect you both from catching a cold. UCLA researchers say that when couples discuss an issue they can’t agree on for 15 minutes – their bodies start to produce valuable immune system cells that attack viruses and germs. They say our bodies interpret a tense debate as a mild threat which naturally stimulates all of our defenses including the immune system.

There’s one catch – you’ve got to fight fair. Couples who used sarcasm, insults or put-downs wound up with higher stress levels and lower immunity than those who stayed positive or affectionate during the spat.