Q: If I'm in a crowded elevator and someone sneezes, will I get sick? (Q & a)

a: Stuck in an elevator with a sneezer? Then chances are, you're going down. A cold, as you probably already know, is a virus that takes residence in an infected person's secretions. If a sick SOB rubs his eyes and, say, shakes your hand, it definitely increases your risk of getting sick, says Sherif Mossad, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic's infectious-diseases department. Same goes for coughs and sneezes.

In fact, when researchers at MIT studied high-tech photos of a sneeze in action, they determined that a single sneeze can project up to 4,500 viral droplets, all moving at speeds of up to 100 mph. "Obviously, if someone behind you sneezes, you can be exposed" says Mossad. "If they cough in front of you, get out of the line of propulsion--if the elevator is large enough. But if they sneeze in your face, wash your hands and face afterward. Short of that, there is nothing you can do."

That's right, nothing. According to Mossad, vitamin C, zinc, and herbs--while helpful in fighting a cold you've already caught--won't keep you from getting sick. "These products have never been proven to prevent a cold." They may help boost your immune system, he says, but that's it.

The one bright spot during the summer months: Sneezes can also be a result of allergies, pollen, dust particles, or moving from air-conditioned air to non-air-conditioned air, so even if you were sneezed on, there's still a chance you weren't actually exposed to any germs.

Q: Friends say my breath is bad enough to wilt flowers. What can I do about it?

a: Frequently, "breath offenders" are the last to know. Because halitosis, or bad breath, is usually caused by poor oral hygiene, nutritionist Jaimie Uva, R.D., recommends upping your brushing ante to four times a day (and don't forget to floss).

If that doesn't take the stink out, it could be time to look at what you eat. Onions, garlic, and an exclusively high-protein diet are often primary causes of bad breath. The solution? Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water and eat your meal with saliva-producing foods, such as fruits and vegetables. "Saliva acts as a cleansing agent, diluting bacteria and bacterial waste products" says Uva. "Chewing sugar-free gum, preferably mint, or--if you're on a date and there's nothing else on your plate--chewing a sprig of parsley can also help curb and prevent odor" he says. If all else fails, see your dentist to rule out gum disease and tooth decay--both of which can leave you with serious dragon breath.

Q: I have fair skin burn easily. Can I still get a summer tan?

a: Just because you have fair skin doesn't mean you only have two options this summer--ghost white or lobster red. The trick is to build up your tan gradually, says Manhattan-based skincare consultant Joan Dallal, R.N., C.P.S.N.

Her advice: Catch an hour's worth of rays on the first day you go out in the sun, an hour and a half on the second, and work up to a max of three hours. Why wait? "The longer it takes to deepen your tan, the longer your tan will last" Dallal says. "Sure, a burn will turn to a tan in a few days, but it will also fade faster. You don't need much time in the sun to activate the melanin in your skin."

And from the very first day you step out in the sun, always use a waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, and reapply it after swimming or working up a sweat. When possible, you should also try to avoid sunbathing between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.--when UV rays are at their most potent and are most likely to damage your skin.

Q: Does cooking food, such as veggies, in a microwave make them less nutritious?

a: On the contrary, nuking your greens may actually keep them healthy. "Anytime you cook something, you reduce its nutrient levels to some degree,' says nutritionist and MF adviser Tanya Zuckerbrot, M.S., R.D. "But since microwave cooking is fast and uses little water, it's a great way to preserve vitamins and minerals.

"When you cook something like vegetables in water," Zuckerbrot continues, "a lot of the nutrients are leached out. And when you throw the water away, you're tossing all those disease fighters out with it." The longer you cook your vegetables in that boiling water, the more vitamins you lose.

To preserve nutrients when you nuke: Add as little water as possible to the bowl you're cooking your food in; leave veggies in big pieces; partially cover the container to reduce cooking time and prevent moisture loss; and keep the skin on, since many nutrients are found just below a vegetable's surface.

Q: How does a sauna really help me?

a: Let us count the ways. Not only does hitting the sauna after a workout help you relax and put your fight muscles at ease, it also improves circulation and raises body temp, all of which help kill bacteria and viruses, says Larry Wilson, author of Sauna Therapy.