How not to catch a cold and flu with the changing seasons
There are big health risks when the temperature begins dipping, and chances are you'll catch something nasty this changing season too. Runny noses, the sniffling and terrible sneezing — an all-too-familiar scenario during this time, every year.
Worse is that no one has yet found a cold drug that does more than suppress symptoms. Also, for a set of ailments that we all suffer so many times, there's a surprising lot we do not understand about them.
Now, colds themselves are not dangerous but they wear down the body's resistance, making us more susceptible to bacterial infections. And they are so easy to catch — from a colleague in office to a friend you met for drinks. And the fact is that it is impossible to minimise contact with people who already have cold.
So what should you do?
To beat the cold and flu virus it is important to build up your cold-and-flu-season armour. You need to make sure that you are so strong from inside that the viruses do not manage to home in.
Some tips to take the bite out of the cold:
Buff up your immunity. Eat plenty of infection-fighting foods.
Consciously stock up on Vitamin C, the immunity boosting vitamin. Reach for citrus fruits, green peppers, strawberries, pineapple and amla. Make sure you give your body enough of this protective vitamin by eating two good sources everyday.
Have garlic. The antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of garlic help to detoxify your immune system and expel mucous. It helps reduce symptoms of colds and flu. It helps shorten the cold and also fends off that horrible continuous runny nose and watery eyes that’s the most irritating part of a cold. So add garlic liberally to foods, have its juice or chew a clove or two raw (it’s more powerful raw).
Zero in on ginger. Drink ginger tea as fresh ginger root helps beat colds and the flu. For making ginger tea — Pour a cup of boiling water over two tablespoons of freshly grated ginger and let it steep for five-ten minutes.
Eat half a raw onion every day with your meal; it has allicin and other phytochemicals, which help the body clear bronchitis and other infections.
Spice up! Antibacterial properties in thyme herb may help with upper respiratory symptoms. Fenugreek, a multipurpose legume used often in curries, chutneys, and soups has a mucus-thinning action that may help unblock your nasal passages.
Mustard helps break up mucus in air passages. Chilli Pepper can open sinuses, and help break up mucus in the lungs. Licorice (mulathi), joshanda and bunaksha are some traditional herbal preparations that are very effective.
Clear clogs. Grandmom was right — hot chicken soup is perfect to clear clogged airways; plus this nourishing broth also provides extra energy too. So is a hot sheera made from besan had just before going to sleep. Also there's a reason everyone tells you to drink tea with honey and lemon when you get a cold. Honey and lemon can help lubricate the throat and produce saliva, reducing the dry tickle in the throat.
Prevent dehydration. It is important to stay hydrated so drink plenty of liquids, green tea and warm herbal water (cumin water, fennel water etc). Avoid coffee, soda and sweetened beverages, which are diuretic so may lead to water loss from the body.
Cut down on your sugar consumption. Sugar disables your natural disease-fighting cells, allowing viruses to take hold.
Change your routine: get out of the rigmarole of skipping meals, lots of caffeine and a steady diet of high-fat/sugar junk foods. Eat plenty of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and protein to boost your immune system and keep it ready to take on the flu virus.
Get outdoors more. Cold weather does not cause cold. In fact, spending more time indoors among others with flu increases chances of falling sick.
Exercise. Exercise increases the flow of virus-fighting white bloods cells in the body — and that helps fight bad bugs.
Sleep enough. Sleeping less than eight hours a day and at irregular times can suppress the immune system. So do take time out for a good anti-flu sleep.