More than 200 different viruses can trigger the most common medical problem Americans complain of every year---the common cold. Scientists haven't determined how to completely prevent colds and their typical nasal congestion. Boosting your immune system, eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated and getting sufficient sleep can help make you feel better while you have a cold and may shorten the cold's duration and prevent it from worsening.
Vitamins and Minerals
The mineral zinc stops viruses from reproducing in your upper respiratory tract, according to Dr. Fred Pescatore, an integrative physician and president of the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists. He recommends zinc lozenges of 15mg to 30mg a day, six times a day. A regimen of vitamin C---3,000mg a day from November through March---can help fend off cold germs and help alleviate symptoms should you come down with a cold.
Hot Green Tea and Honey
Green tea is packed with immune-boosting antioxidants that can help you ward off illness. When taken hot, the steamy heat can also help loosen mucous membranes and relieve congestion. Add 2 tbsp. of honey and a splash of lemon juice to your cup of green tea. The powerful antiviral, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of honey combine to fight the virus germs that caused your cold and keep new bacteria that sometimes invade your body when you're suffering from a cold, at bay. Lemon juice gives you a quick hit of Vitamin C when you need it most.
Moist Heat
Moist heat may help ease cold and congestion symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website. When you inhale hot, moist air or steam from a running shower, you loosen congestion and allow your nasal passages to drain. Carry a chair into your bathroom and run the shower on hot for 10 minutes up to four times a day. Run a humidifier in your home or office to keep the air moist. Drink hot drinks, teas or soups from a cup to give your head a breath of steam while you're nourishing your body.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sinus Headaches
- Mother Nature: The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies
- Lifescript: 10 Doctor-Approved Natural Cold Remedies
- "The Complete Medicinal Herbal"; Penelope Ody; 1993
