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5 Easy Ways To Ditch That Cold FAST!
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There is no avoiding it: No matter how careful you are, no matter how healthy you eat, unless you live in a cave, you will catch a cold at one time or another in your life.
The truth is that colds, while they aren’t fun, are not necessarily a “bad” thing or a sign that something is wrong with your body. In fact, the opposite is true! Cold symptoms are simply your body’s way of trying to remove the virus.
Now, if you suffer from frequent colds or if your colds tend to hang on for more than sven days, that is a sign that your immune system isn’t strong enough to fight off even the weakest cold virus, and you should take steps to strengthen your immune system.
To help your body become more efficient at kicking colds to the curb, take a look at the following five tips you can use to ditch that cold faster than a kid gets bored with a toy!
1. Eat Plenty of Anti-Viral Foods and Herbs
- Some of the best choices are:
- Yarrow
- Garlic
- Uva Ursi
- Onions
- Marshmallow Root
- Ginger
- Goldenseal
- Turmeric
- Oregon Grape Root
- Lemon
- Echinacea
- Calendula
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Peppermint
- Cranberry
- Cloves
- Elderberry
- Lemon Balm
- Oregano Oil
- Olive leaf
- Astragalus
You can drink these as teas, add supplements to your diet, or add them into your foods.
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2. Eat Light
Speaking of food, this is the time to eat light, such as fresh juices, soups, steamed veggies, and salads. This helps to give your body the nutrition it needs while not making it work too hard at digestion. Avoid meat until cold symptoms have passed. Avoid cold drinks and very cold foods to avoid having your body work hard to maintain a normal temperature.
3. Kick Up the Vitamin C
Vitamin C stimulates the immune system, so cranking up your intake will help your body during this time. You can take a supplement, of course, but why not add vitamin C rich foods to your diet such as:
- Pineapple
- Guavas
- Red or Yellow Bell Peppers
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Kiwi
- Kale
You might never have thought of some of these as being rich in vitamin C, but all of the above are very rich sources, so no matter which you choose, you can’t go wrong.
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4. Think Herbal Tea
Hot herbal beverages are the best thing ever for helping your body fight off a cold. Teas are easy to digest, many have anti-viral compounds, and don’t stress the digestive system. Some of the best teas to drink to beat a cold are:
- Peppermint
- Ginger
- Schisandra
- Echinacea
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Pau d’Arco
5. Avoid Upsetting Your Stomach
Some types of foods only cause your body to work harder and when you have a cold, and this is not a good idea. To be sure that your body devotes its strength to kicking the cold, avoid the following while you are sick:
- Coffee
- Sugar
- Meats (except for fish)
- Dairy
- Wheat
- Corn
- Soy
READ ALSO: All Natural Cold and Flu Remedies for Kids
This will allow your digestive system and immune system to spend their energy on beating the cold, not digesting difficult foods.
In addition to the above, don’t forget to get plenty of rest, try to get some natural sunlight, and take it easy on the exercise until your symptoms subside.
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