Treatment

5 Common Sense Tips to Naturally Relieve Cold Symptoms
By Gene Cook

If you are one of the one billion Americans who catch a common cold this year, hopefully, this article will help bring into your conscious awareness some of the common sense things you can do to make yourself comfortable and shorten the amount of time you're feeling under the weather.

Get plenty of rest. Your body has to work harder when you have a cold which is caused by a viral infection. If you're a busy person and try to keep going at your normal pace, your body can't fight the virus effectively and you run the risk of developing further complications such as bronchitis or pneumonia. If it's possible to take a day or two off from work, then do it. If it isn't possible, at least slow down and re-prioritize your tasks, eliminating anything that isn't essential, including social activities, until you're feeling better.

Drink plenty of liquids. You lose more fluid when you have a cold, so it is imperative that you consume more liquids than usual. Drink a minimum of eight glasses of clear liquids every day you have cold symptoms. Don't drink milk as this can cause more mucous which you don't need. Good choices are water, juice (or juice mixed with water), tea and heated, clear beef or chicken broth. This additional liquid will not only replenish the fluid you are losing, but will help to flush impurities from your body.

Stay warm. Bundle up so that your energy is used to help your immune system fight your cold instead of being used to keep you warm.

Feed a cold; starve a fever. I'm sure you've heard this old adage. However, you want to watch what you eat when you have a cold. Again, this brings into play how the body's energy supply is being used. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and lots less fatty foods, including meat and dairy products. It takes a lot more of your energy to digest fatty foods, so by eating more fruits and vegetables, you allow your energy to be used to fight the infection.

If you feel like taking a slow walk, take one. Mild exercise will improve your circulation, helping to stimulate and circulate infection fighting antibodies. If it's cold outside, it would be preferable to do some type of mild exercise indoors. But, be careful to not overdo it and be sure to avoid strenuous exercise of any kind.



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