Colds have a pesky way of sneaking up on you, whether it’s cold and flu season or not. If you’re not careful, you may end up down for the count, which is especially inconvenient when it interferes with previously made plans. When you feel a cold coming on, it may seem like you’re at the mercy of the virus as far as severity and duration go, but believe it or not, you have more control over a cold than you think.
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Certain lifestyle factors can help prevent you from catching a cold in the first place, while others can increase your risk. Factors that can depress your immune system and leave you more susceptible to a cold include: eating too much sugar, not getting enough rest, not getting enough exercise, being overwhelmed by stressors and being vitamin D deficient.
When you feel yourself coming down with a cold or flu, aim to address these nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress issues right away. Immune-enhancing foods to add to your diet include:
• Raw, grass fed, organic milk
• Fermented foods such as raw kefir, kimchi, miso, pickles and sauerkraut
• Raw, organic eggs from pastured chickens
• Organic vegetables
• Foods rich in vitamin C, such as red bell peppers, broccoli, papaya, kiwi and other citrus fruits
• Coconuts and coconut oil
• Garlic, turmeric, oregano, cinnamon and cloves
• Mushrooms — especially Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake
• Chicken soup
• Green tea
Don’t forget to drink plenty of water! If you aren’t able to stop a cold from coming on with these foods and lifestyle interventions, you can at least help your body fight the virus effectively and speed up your recovery time. Supplements that can help send pathogens packing include:
• Vitamin C — Take several grams of this potent antioxidant every hour until you start feeling better
• Oregano oil — The most active antimicrobial agent in oregano oil is carvacrol
• Propolis — This bee resin is one of the most broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds in the world
• Tea made from elderflower, yarrow, boneset, linden, peppermint and ginger — Drink it hot and often
• Olive leaf extract — Known as a natural, nontoxic immune system builder
• Zinc — When taken within one day of the first symptoms, zinc can cut down sick time by 24 hours