No one likes to be sick, and the combination of body aches, fever and chills is definitely not something anyone will be comfortable with. The immune system is known as the body’s defense to help fight against infections like the common cold. However, you can get infected if you have a slow immune system or if the infection is strong enough to cross the barrier.
While there are enough medicines to help you combat cold and flu easily, you may not always get them easily. This is why home remedies are sometimes recommended and have no adverse effects. Below are some of these remedies.
1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C benefits the health in so many ways and can be found abundantly in lemons, oranges, grapefruits, leafy greens and other fruits and vegetables. You can add lemon juice to your hot tea with honey to help reduce phlegm. Make natural fruit juices with no added sugar to get abundant vitamin C in your system. Although, this won’t help to clear the cold completely, it will provide the vitamin C needed in the immune system.
2. Garlic
Garlic contains allicin, a compound known to have antimicrobial properties, which reduces infection. Studies have found that it helps to combat sickness in the first place. So you’ll actually get benefit from eating enough garlic cloves even without the cold and flu. You can add garlic supplement to your diet to help relieve the cold symptoms.
3. Salt water
You can gargle with salt water to help prevent upper respiratory tract infections, which helps to reduce mucus. It has also been shown to decrease the severity of cold symptoms, as it eases sore throat pain and nasal congestion. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a full glass of water and gargle in your mouth and around your throat, then spit out.
4. Probiotics
Probiotics are gut-friendly bacteria known to improve digestion and the immune system. They are commonly found in yogurt, which also contains enough protein and calcium that benefits your health. Studies have found that probiotics may reduce your chance of developing an infection in your upper respiratory system.
If you experience severe symptoms like trouble in breathing or rapid heart rate, ensure that you get medical care as soon as possible.
Image courtesy of: iamyogahealth.com.
