While fall means hot coffee, fluffy socks, and Halloween, the excitement is a little dulled because it’s also the cold season. You know how it goes – you make some plans, you get excited, and then the day before, you get sick and everything is ruined. Ugh, great, you get to stay in bed while everyone else is out, having fun. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to prevent or ease a cold and get through the season with no fuss, so let’s take a look at what you can do.
Aromatherapy baths
Stress is the number one enemy to your health. It will weaken your immune system, make you feel tired, and prolong the symptoms of the cold. Sadly, most of us can’t exactly avoid stress, but we can certainly find good ways to deal with it. Taking hot baths full of essential oils can have insanely positive results on our mood, and it can help us relax and soothe our worries away. Allow yourself to sink into a tub and let all that stress go as you inhale the calming scents.
Eat good breakfast
Don’t turn to last night’s pizza or a doughnut for your breakfast. The processed ingredients and sugar in these can trigger inflammation and wreak havoc on your immune system if you aren’t careful. Grapefruit, oatmeal, frozen yogurt, and protein shakes are a much better idea, and so are almond milk, veggies, and whole-grain toast. If you get a good start, you’ll have plenty of energy to get through the day.
Use natural cures
You wouldn’t believe how much useful food there is around us. We can eat it both as a form of prevention, and as a way to help our body heal and ease the symptoms of a bad case of flu. Garlic, for example, has excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, and citrus fruits are full of vitamin C.
The real gem that you should get though, is Echinacea root. From boosting the immune system, to combating cancer, inflammations, and anxiety, this plant is a truly amazing way to stay healthy even when everyone around you is sick. Getting it as a supplement is a good idea, and you can find something that combines both Echinacea and a range of other vitamins, like some of the Floradix supplements.
Remember, prevention is the best cure, so try to start eating well before the cold even hits you.
Exercise your way to health
Consistent exercising routine is the key to fewer respiratory infections and a generally better resistance to getting sick. A half an hour workout every day can really change the way your body deals with infections and make you feel a lot better.
Get your flu shots
Talk to your doctor and see about getting your flu shots, because there really isn’t a more effective way to prevent a disease than vaccination. It’s quick, easy, and can potentially save you a lot of pain. Even if you’re young and healthy, flu shots are important, but consult your physician if you have any worries.
Drink more fluids
This is generally important, but especially if you’ve already gotten sick. One of the ways to ease the pain is to keep drinking more water, freshly squeezed juice, and tea. If you have a sore throat, this will help a lot, and staying hydrated will make sure you suffer fewer headaches and muscle aches.
Wash your hands
Especially after using public bathrooms, or public transport. The germs found around these spaces can infect you easily, so practice good hygiene whenever you can.
If you do get sick, the most important thing to keep in mind is to take a day or two off, and really rest. Don’t push yourself to get to work. Just stay home, sleep, and let your body deal with the cold on its own. Put your health first, otherwise you’ll keep getting sick.
