Winter is the traditional season for colds, but you don’t have to suffer if you keep your immune system tuned up the natural health way. Not getting a cold is all about following common sense routines and keeping the immune system in top shape so the body can vigilantly fight viruses.
How Do You Get a Cold?
Cold viruses are spread in the air by people with colds sneezing near you, and by contact, like touching a door knob, pencil, faucet or remote control. The virus-transfer happens when you touch your unwashed hands to your eyes, nose or mouth. Cold viruses can exist on objects for several hours. Spare yourself doctor visits, missed work days, over-the-counter medicines and the general misery of having a cold by following these natural health tips.
Natural Health Tips for Avoiding Colds
Choose from these suggestions to keep colds away:
- Wash your hands often. As simplistic as this sounds, it’s effective in washing away cold viruses.
- Use hand sanitizer. Carry this portable cold-chaser with you; in pocket, purse and car.
- Avoid people with colds and try to limit touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Eat nutritious food. Consume a varied diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and nuts to boost your immune system.
- Take a multivitamin. It is good nutrition insurance.
- Take vitamin D3, at least 1000 IU per day from all sources. John Cannell, M.D., director of the Vitamin D Council believes the increase in colds in the winter is due to lack of sunshine in the northern states. In the April 2006 “Vitamin D Newsletter” he notes that taking up to 2000 IU per day is safe.
- Do aerobic exercise regularly. In a research study originally appearing in the November 2006 issue of The American Journal of Medicine, women who did aerobic exercise, usually brisk walking for 30 minutes every day, had ½ the colds of a non-aerobic placebo group.
- Take the herb echinacea every other month during the winter. As originally reported in the June 2007 journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, researchers at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy found that people who took 3000 mg or more of echinacea had 58% fewer colds than a placebo-controlled group. In addition, cold duration while taking the herb was about 1 ½ days shorter.
- Drink lots of water.
- Breathe plenty of fresh air.
- Make red wine your alcohol of choice (if you already drink). Besides benefitting the heart, a Spanish study, appearing in the May 2002 American Journal of Epidemiology, found that those who drank a daily glass of red wine had fewer colds then non-wine drinkers.
- Investigate the Chinese herbs Astragalus and Andographis. They are known for boosting the immune system and preventing colds.
- Get at least eight hours of sleep per night.
- Laugh. It lightens stress and strengthens the immune system; watch a rerun of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” read cartoons or share funny stories with a friend.
Educate Yourself
The jury is still out on the popular remedies vitamin C and zinc lozenges. Many studies find no benefit while other studies note cold duration slightly shortened. Also, you don’t get colds from the cold weather; it’s the human togetherness that enables the virus infection. Take charge of your own health, educate yourself, and make sound decisions along with your health care provider.
This article is for educational purposes only. See your physician for further advice especially if taking prescription drugs.
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