The winter months are approaching and the weather has already started to get colder marking the new “cold and flu season” for many of us. Catching a cold is extremely common and while it’s not currently 100% curable, the good news is that you can prevent the common cold or even make it heal faster with the help of the following three tips:
1.) Prevention is the key. It is said that “prevention is the best cure” and we couldn’t agree more- if your immune system is in a top-notch condition, chances of catching a cold are minimal to none. One of the best ways to strengthen your immune system, is to make sure you get all your vitamins and minerals your body needs and especially Vitamin C and probiotics which help minimize oxidative damage and increase internal immunity respectively, so that your body is more capable of fighting future infections.
2.) Treat your symptoms naturally, at the first sign of a cold/flu. The vast majority of people make the mistake of treating their flu symptoms a few days after they have caught a cold which does almost nothing to make the cold heal faster. If you have just noticed some symptoms like sneezing, chest congestion, coughing or experiencing pain in various parts of the body, try these home remedies below to help your body fight an upcoming cold infection:
- Drink herbal tea: Certain herbal teas like lemon, ginger, parsley, rose hips and Echinacea, have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties which means that they are capable of relieving common cold/flu symptoms. For added benefit, try adding a teaspoon of honey which nourishes and relieves from throat congestion.
- Steam your face: Steaming your face will help clear nasal airways and should help with any chest congestion caused by common flu. To steam your face, boil 1 liter of water in a stove, let it cool for a minute and then drape a towel over your head (facing the stove with the boiled water) and inhale the steam for about 10 minutes. You can also try adding some herbal tea in the boiled water for added cleansing action.
- Drink plenty of fluids and eat soups: When your body catches a flu, solid foods and heavy drinks with sugar do more harm than good. Your body needs adequate hydration in order to heal faster and for this reason, you have to drink natural fluids like water, vegetable/fruit juices and teas as well as consume soups with vegetables and protein rich foods (e.g. Chicken soup).
3.) Rest. Rest is very important because it helps your body recover faster and doesn’t require high amounts of valuable energy (which is low during cold/flu period). If you have light to mild symptoms, you can go outside and follow your normal routine but you should be extra careful not to stress yourself and do many things at once. If you have heavier symptoms, it’s best to stay at home and in bed, to give your body the chance to rest and recover faster from the illness.
Although alternative home remedies like those we mentioned above are considered more safe and cost-effective options, in some cases they may prove to be ineffective at treating common cold/flu symptoms. If the above tips do not seem to help, consult your family doctor and he/she will be able to recommend the best treatment options for your individual symptoms.
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