Thursday, October 27, 2011

Fall/Winter Health Watch: Cold Remedies

As we all know, there is nothing GLAMOROUS or FASHIONABLE about getting sick! The season is changing and everyone, including myself, is feeling under the weather, so I thought the topic of cold remedies is very appropriate. If you are one of the few lucky people that have not gotten sick yet, CONGRATULATIONS, your time will come (haha)! Jokes aside, there are precautions you can take to lower your chances of getting a cold.
·        Get plenty of vitamin C. If you didn’t know, Vitamin C is high in antioxidants and can raise your body’s defenses. You can eat fruits with vitamin C, such as grapefruits, strawberries, and oranges, or you can drink a glass of orange juice every morning. You can also take daily vitamin C tablets.  
·        Drinking herbal teas like green and white teas are not only delicious, but help prevent colds. Wow what can’t these teas do?!
·        Wash your hands often and well. That is major because bacteria are commonly transferred that way.
·        If the sickness has entered your house, separate hand towels, don’t share food or silverware, kisses, etc. (yeah I said kisses, resist the urge, unless you enjoy getting sick!)
If you are the majority, like myself, that are not as fortunate to evade the cold, there are a few home remedies that are worth trying to help cure, or at least soothe the discomfort.
·        The classic is drinking squeezed lemon and honey. It’s a classic because it works. So even if you are like me and absolutely hate lemon, try it anyways because it really works! Mainly, if you first start to feel the slightest tickle in your throat, drink lemon with honey and it could prevent the progression of you actually getting sick.  
·        Drinking teas are good for preventing a cold, as well as TREATING IT once it’s here. The best are green and white teas because, above all of their benefits, they contain antibacterial and antiviral properties. White tea contains stronger antibacterial and antiviral properties, which can cure your cold and infection, among other things.
·        Applying Vick’s vapor rub makes you feel AMAZING. It soothes symptoms you might have to at least make you sleep a little better.
·        Gargling saltwater can soothe a sore throat.
·        This one is weird, but my mother made me take this when I was young for a stubborn cough. You slice red onion, pour sugar on it, and let it sit. The sugar extracts the onion’s juices. Then you drink a teaspoon of that, every hour or two. Odd, but it worked for me!  

Lastly, if you have a cold, try not to spread it! Wash your hands at all times, mainly after coughing or blowing your nose. Also, when you cough or sneeze, do so on your arm, not your hand. This is recently emphasized because it spreads fewer germs. Hopefully these tips help, and don’t forget health is beauty, so stay healthy this wonderful fall and winter .

No comments:

Post a Comment