Ways To Fight The Common Cold
HEALTHY HABITS are Ways To Fight The Common Cold
Here is some good news: The hygiene practices you’ve grown accustomed to during cov10-mask-wearing, frequent handwashing, and social distancing-also help keep colds at bay.
Cold and flu viruses thrive in dry air, so keep nasal passages moist with saline spray, and run a cool-mist humidifier in your home.
Should you fall ill, hands-on attention can speed recovery.
Schedule an office visit with an osteopathic physician (a licensed doctor who emphasizes a whole-person approach to treatment) who can gently manipulate the tissues around your face and neck to increase drainage of your sinuses and nasal passages, encouraging lymphatic flow.
HERBS
A pot of spicy herbal tea can prevent the common cold and relieve its symptoms.
Add five slices of fresh ginger root, one cinnamon stick, and four cloves to five cups
of water in a pot.
Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat and let everything steep for an
additional 5 minutes. Ginger increases blood flow to the nose to promote mucus flow, while cinnamon and clove are warming and antiviral.
Sip the concoction with honey throughout the day.
Make elderberry syrup and astragalus root your other preventive go-tos.
Elderberry is high in vitamin C and may have antiviral properties.
Astragalus is a traditional Chinese herb that promotes virus-killing B-cells and antibodies (proteins created by your immune system to fight infection).
Take one to two teaspoons of elderberry syrup three to five times a day and two droppers of astragalus tincture twice daily during cold and flu season.
NUTRITION
One of the best methods to prevent the common cold is to focus on what you eat and drink.
A well-balanced, varied diet that is low in or free of added sugar and processed foods will ensure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals you need to keep inflammation in check and build a robust immune system.
Crowd out empty-calorie foods by filling your plate with nutrient-rich choices that can help you feel better.
Please don’t skimp on fruits, veggies, and other plant-based foods: Their high fiber content provides fuel for good gut bacteria.
That’s important since research has shown a healthy microbiome is crucial for proper immune function.
If you don’t feel up to eating a full meal, sip caffeine-free hot tea or broth.
Drinking steamy liquids will make you feel less chilly, soothe a sore throat, and
break up mucus.
