As the winter season approaches, many prepare for what they feel is the inevitable, unpleasant and frequent attacks of the common cold. Although there are a variety of proven medical treatments for most sicknesses, and inoculations are common and easy to get for the flu, many are simply baffled when it comes to avoiding the common cold. Of course, the common cold is actually a virus, and as such, anti-bacterial medicines can do very little in treating it. In some cases, prescribed medicine to treat colds may actually do more harm than good by wearing out the sufferer and also weakening the immune system. So, if conventional medical techniques have failed, how can one ever hope to keep healthy and stay out of the way of wintertime colds? Thankfully, there are actually many ways to stay healthy, and most are them are so simple that they may be surprising.
The first and most important way to prevent a cold from even happening is to stay healthy and keep your nutrients up throughout the winter season. Most people do not take enough Vitamin C, and while it can sometimes seem inconvenient to take a supplement every day, it is one of the easiest, cheapest and most effective ways to prevent getting sick. If an everyday dose of Vitamin C is not a practice that you follow, it should at least be one of the first things that you do when you notice the onset of cold symptoms. After realizing that you are starting to become sick, taking some Vitamin C after a meal or snack, do this for a couple days and you may notice that the cold goes away on it’s own. However, if cold symptoms persist, and the tried and true treatment of Vitamin C is simply not enough to prevent and heal the cold, there are a variety of other methods than can be used.
When you feel sick, one of the best things to do is take a shower. Not only will a cleansing, hot shower make you feel cleaner, it also has medical benefits. When you take a hot shower, the steam from the water can help to loosen mucus and other junk that has become stuck in your nasal passages, and it can also help moisturize those same passages, meaning that your rate of stuffy noses and watery eyes, as well as frequent sneezing, will be greatly reduced. For an even more effective remedy, try picking up some of the “shower tabs” that are specifically formulated to dissolve in hot water and contain menthol or other related ingredients. These tabs will add menthol to the steam of the shower, and will thus make that steam even more effective in helping out your nasal passages.
In addition to Vitamin C, another helpful nutrient is Vitamin A. Although Vitamin A is not commonly thought of as a vitamin that can help with the common cold, it has a number of very healthy side effects. Vitamin A acts as a natural decongestant, and will help keep your nose clear. The vitamin also has the interesting effect of thinning out mucus, which means that your nose will not become clogged or stuffy, and that you will have a much better time dealing with your cold.
As many know, some hot tea can be very soothing when one doesn’t feel good. However, in order to make that Tea even healthier, try adding some honey or a small pat of real butter. Either of these ingredients will soothe a sore throat and make it easier to swallow, as well as adding a little bit of pleasant flavor to your tea.
If you normally drink a lot of sugary substances such as soda, than you may want to try switching your typical drinks to help out with your symptoms. Even before you actually get sick, drinking a lot of 100% juice (check the labels!) and water can be very effective in keeping up your immune system. Also, if you do get sick, these same juices will provide a lot of nutrients, making sure that your road to recovery is a much faster one. However, while it may be tempting to just grab any juice off the rack in the store, make sure to check the labels before you do; the goal is to avoid sugary, unhealthy drinks and get a lot of nutrients and vitamins. For those reasons, your going to want a product which is 100% juice.
Even though it may be the last thing on your mind when you do not feel good, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to get some exercise. Simply hit the gym for an hour or so each day and you will find that you will feel much better, and that your cold does not last for nearly as long. Regular exercises keep your immune system in top shape, and also keeps blood vessels and other important cells throughout your body moving, a key factor in reducing illness.
You may have heard many times that chicken soup is the best thing for a cold. However, there is a better soup out there to relieve congestion and help with cold symptoms. That soup is known as “Hot and Sour” soup, and it contains many additional herbs and spices, in addition to chicken broth, that clear out your nasal passages and sinuses much more easily, not to mention that it tastes great, and the additional spices do a lot to help with your overall health.
If you feel like you may be at a high risk to become sick, try keeping some room humidifiers out, as they do wonders for reducing your chances of becoming ill.
Also, remember to stock up on tissues, and watch what kind of cough drops you purchase. Your going to want drops that do not contain high amounts of sugar, and menthol based products are generally much more effective. Remember to wash your hands frequently, and do not touch your face or mouth anytime after shaking hands with others. Remember that germs are easily spread, but washing your hands frequently can help reduce the chances of this happening.
Even though the common cold may sometimes seem like it is an impossible battle to fight, that is simply not the case and a little preparation and some healthy habits can not only reduce your chances of getting the cold, but can also greatly reduce your symptoms and the length of time for which you are sick. Remember to say healthy, drink lots of fluids, and stay stocked up on cold fighting supplies, and you should find that you can get through the cold season without too much of a problem.
