Getting regular exercise isn’t just a way to shed extra pounds or keep your heart healthy. A new study finds regular, moderate exercise boosts immunity and can help prevent the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus this season.

The study, published in The Journal of Infectious Disease, has found that keeping active can reduce the severity of symptoms as well as limit the amount of time the virus invades the body, according to Reuters.

In studies of mice, researchers compared exercisers to non-exercisers and found the rodents who took part in daily, cardiovascular exercise, like running on a treadmill, recovered quicker and had less fewer symptoms when exposed to the flu virus.

In addition, mice that exercised right before exposure instead of over a longer period showed some protection over severe symptoms.

Nutritional supplements containing vitamins C and D as well as echinacea, probiotics and zinc are all believed to help boost immunity and fight illnesses.

According to Health.com, herbal supplements containing andrographis, astragalus, elderberry, honeysuckle and forsythia are not proven immunity-boosters although many claim they are helpful in fighting the flu and other viruses.