When a cold or flu strikes, fight back with these 5 strategies.
By G. Slanie
No matter the season, nobody has time to slow down for the calamity of the common cold. That’s why it’s vital to battle the onslaught of germs during the cold and flu season, which, in the US, can strike in September and last until May.
You may think that once you’ve caught a cold or flu, you’re doomed to ride it out for its entirety. (Most typical colds last between eight and nine days, while the classic flu can last four to seven days.) But think again. For recommendations on defeating a cold once you’ve got it, we’ve turned to Dr. Joseph Mercola, creator of the natural health website Mercola.com, based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and author of the article “The First Thing to do When a Cold or Flu Strikes.” He offers the following tips for fighting a cold…fast, so you can get on with your ever-busy, fabulous life:
- Turn up the vitamin D. When you’re looking to recover from a cold quickly or prevent a cold or flu before it strikes, consider vitamin D, which can help avert germs and viruses from attacking your body. “Research has confirmed that ‘catching’ colds and flu may actually be a symptom of an underlying vitamin D deficiency,” says Dr. Mercola. “Less than optimal vitamin D levels will significantly impair your immune response and make you far more susceptible to contracting colds, influenza, and other respiratory infections.” Two ways to optimize vitamin D levels include regularly exposing your skin to appropriate sunlight and taking a high-quality vitamin D3 supplement.
- Choose your food wisely. Eating right all the time is a no-brainer, but seriously consider your dietary intake when trying to kick a cold or flu. Some foods and fluids that aid in strengthening the immune system include organic vegetables, fermented foods such as pickles and sauerkraut, organic eggs from pastured chickens, grass-fed beef, plenty of water, and, believe it or not, chicken soup. Chicken has a natural amino acid that helps in thinning the mucus in the lungs and makes it easier for the body to cast out more easily. “Processed, canned soups won’t work as well as the homemade version,” says Dr. Mercola. “For best results, make up a fresh batch yourself (or ask a friend or family member to do so) and make the soup hot and spicy with plenty of pepper. The spices will trigger a sudden release of watery fluids in your mouth, throat, and lungs, which will help thin down the respiratory mucus so it’s easier to cough up and expel.”
- Consider using supplements to benefit a cold. Aside from vitamin D, other helpful options that assist in defeating a cold, according to Dr. Mercola, include vitamin C, an effective antioxidant; oregano oil with a high concentration of carvacrol, an antimicrobial agent; propolis, a bee resin that aids in immune response; tea made from a mixture of elderflower, yarrow, bonest, linden, peppermint and ginger to help exterminate the virus from your system; and olive leaf extract, a natural, age-old immune system builder.
- Take zinc at the first sign of a cold. “Taken within one day of the first symptoms, zinc can cut down the time you have a cold by about 24 hours,” says Dr. Mercola. Zinc is not recommended, however, if you have an underlying health condition such as a lowered immune function, asthma, or chronic illness.
- Tweak your lifestyle. Alongside eating right and taking vitamins, a few lifestyle changes can make the world of difference in how you feel, both physically and mentally. For example, getting plenty of sleep can rejuvenate the immune system, increase metabolism, and help organize thoughts. Regular exercise can decrease your risk for respiratory illness—and when you do catch a cold, the symptoms won’t be as harsh compared to symptoms affecting individuals who don’t exercise. Lastly, address your emotional stress. Emotional stress can incite you to an infection while making symptoms worse. Finding ways to govern daily stress will contribute to a strong and effective immune system. “Ideally, you must address nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress issues the moment you first feel yourself getting a bug,” says Dr. Mercola. “This is when immune-enhancing strategies will be most effective.”
