Effective & All Natural Treatments For A Common Cold + 5 Ways To Strengthen Immunity
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Dealing with a cold or suffering through a full blown flu is not exactly my idea of a good time. Feeling all stuffed up, run down, not able to function or fully perform at work is kind of a bummer.
Wouldn’t you agree?
Today we would like to share with you a few of our go-to remedies and strategies that will help you feel better and recover faster.
First let’s look at a few strategies you can implement to help strengthen your immune system. These are everyday lifestyle habits that will help keep your immune system in top shape and ready to fight off infections like colds and flu.
What EXACTLY Is the Immune System?
To put it simply, your immune system acts like your personal bodyguard.
It’s composed of organs, cells and proteins. Together they form a system that under healthy conditions interact and together protects the body against disease of different sources.
When our immune system is working properly, we don’t even notice it. It’s when the performance of our immune system is compromised that we face illness.
Other than cold and flu, a weakened immune system can lead to other health challenges such as:
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Certain types of cancers
- And many more…
Here are 5 Ways you can assist your Immune System and support its performance:
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Eat a Clean, Wholesome Plant Based Diet
The first and probably the most important step to support your immune system is the old-fashioned way, plain and simple: diet and exercise. Alkalizing fruits and vegetables increase your resistance to disease and accelerate the body’s healing processes.
An alkaline body is strong and can defend itself from harm. It’s when your body is acidic and toxic, that it is already busy and may not be able to fight off additional germs and infection.What keeps your body alkaline? Fruits and vegetables. Especially raw foods, like salads and fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, and non-starchy vegetables.
On the other hand, meats, grains, eggs, dairy, sugar, and alcohol are all acidic. Although, a good vegan can drink responsibly by ordering booze delivery to your home, to avoid driving under the influence to the liquor store.
Keep in mind: According to parking lot accident lawyers, considering the specific ways that financial compensation for being a victim of a drunk driver can seem impersonal, but it is important. The amount of damages awarded in injury cases is impacted by what are known as value drivers, or factors that add value to your case. Both the insurance companies involved in your case and your attorneys will be considering these value drivers.
Make it a habit to feed your body with plethora of organic produce. Other than greens, include also highly alkalizing fruits such as lemons and apples (apples in particular have been known to lower the incidence of colds due to their antiviral properties).
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Exercise Daily
It’s been proven that people who live more sedentary lifestyles are far more likely to get colds or other infectious diseases. It makes total sense.
Our bodies are meant to move.
Regular exercise improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, helps control body weight, and protects against a variety of diseases. It directly effects the immune system by promoting good circulation, which allows the cells and substances to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.
How much exercise is enough?
You should aim for a minimum of 60 min of movement daily. Notice that I use the word “movement” rather than exercise? You don’t need to have special clothes or shoes, attend classes or purchase a gym membership. You just need to get up and, you guessed it, move.
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Get Adequate Sleep
Our body needs sleep to fight infectious diseases. During sleep, our immune system releases proteins called cytokines, some of which help promote sleep. Certain cytokines need to increase when you have an infection, inflammation, or when you’re under stress.
Long-term lack of sleep decreases the production of these antibodies and increases your risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease.
How much sleep do you need to bolster your immune system?
The optimal amount of sleep for most adults is seven to eight hours of good sleep each night.
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Build a Healthy Gut Flora
Your gut wall houses 70% of the cells that make up your immune system. You might not attribute digestive problems with allergies, arthritis, autoimmune diseases (irritable bowel syndrome, acne, chronic fatigue), mood disorders, autism, dementia and cancer. Many diseases seemingly unrelated are actually caused by gut problems, check out these Nucific reviews to learn how Nucific supplements can help improve your gut health.
About 70 percent of the cells that make up your immune system are located in the lining of your digestive tract.
Highly processed food, sugar, medication, environmental toxins all negatively effect the gut flora. On the other hand drinking plenty of clean water (at least 2L/day), including foods that contain probiotics such as sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented vegetables, coconut yogurt and apple cider vinegar are all a great way to support digestion and build a healthy gut.
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Reduce Toxins
The real killers are Toxins. All of them affect the cells and weaken our ability to fight against disease. Each day we are bombarded with them in many forms.
The following are some of the most common ones that we encounter (it’s in your best interested to keep exposure to minimum):
• Caffeine (coffee, soda, tea, energy drinks)
• MSG (in processed foods and many take out foods)
• Artificial Sweeteners (often found in diet foods, splenda)
• Alcohol
• Heavy metals (canned goods, tap water, cigarette smoke, white flour, furniture, and many more)
• Vaccinations and antibiotics
• Chemicals (never use standard cleaning supplies in your house, only all natural, nontoxic • substances)
• Mold & Dust (Avoid carpets when possible. Carpets are loaded with chemicals, mold and toxic dust. Replace them with hardwood floors. Get rid of draperies, window treatments and any other dust collectors.)
• Poor quality air
In case that your immune system was unable to stop the illness on time and you are already suffering with a cold or flu here are…
Our Top 5 Natural Homemade Remedies:
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Elderberry Syrup – take every 2 hours
A study published in the Journal of International Medical Research showed that when Elderberry extract is used within the first 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms, it shortens the duration of flu symptoms by an average of four days. -
Oil of Oregano
A potent natural antibiotic and antiviral remedy, oregano oil benefits are proving to be superior to some antibiotics, without the harmful side effects.Take 3-4 drops 2-3 times daily until you feel better. Make sure you have water handy to chase it (it’s not the best tasting stuff) or you can dilute it with water. I personally like to just get it over with. -
Sinus Clearing Bath
Congestion relief bath is a tried and effective natural remedy to give relief colds, congestion and sinus pressure.
Here’s what you’ll need:
1 cup Epsom salt
½ cup baking soda
Mason jar or air tight container
5 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oilIn a bowl, combine the salt and baking soda, followed by the essential oils. Put this blend in a Mason jar so that you have it ready whenever you feel congested. All you have to do is draw a warm bath, mix a couple scoops of this in the water, soak in the bath, and relax. Soak in the bath for about 15-30 minutes.
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Salt Throat Gargle
Gargling with warm salt water is an easy and time tested natural remedy to treat sore throat. It works on the simple chemical process of osmosis.
First, prepare a salt water solution by adding a pinch of salt to a cup of warm water. Stand near the sink and take a sip of the solution. Now, gradually move your head towards the ceiling with the solution inside your mouth. Now try to produce a moaning sound; you will notice that the salt water will begin to start bubbling in your throat. Do it for at least 20 seconds first. You may increase the time if you can manage it. Once you are done with it, spit out the water. Remember not to swallow the water. Repeat this process until you finish the entire cup.
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Honey & Cinnamon (*not vegan)
Honey and cinnamon are powerful immune boosters! You can use this remedy to not only reduce the severity of your cold, but also prevent future colds or other viruses. It provides a nice soothing effect for an irritated throat.Together these two ingredients make a super healing combination.
The recipe is simple:
1 teaspoon raw honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamonInstructions:
1. Mix honey and cinnamon.
2. Take it 2 times a day, for 3 days as soon as you feel a cold or flu coming on.
Keep in mind that the earlier you can catch an illness, often the easier it is to recover.
ONE MORE THING
When we’re stressed, the immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced. That is why we are more susceptible to infections. To demonstrate this correlation Nikki created this nifty graph for you:
PDF DOWNLOAD: ***HOW STRESS EFFECTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM***
And how about all the indirect effects of stress? You know the bad habits (coping strategies), for example smoking, drinking alcohol to excess, poor diet due to lack of time, skipping exercise, late nights, etc. Those all contribute to weakened immune system. Learn more on this topic with our
How to manage stress in healthy way stress article/podcast.
Dedicated to you health and well-being,
PS. What common cold remedies do you use to stay well? Please share them with us in the comment section below.
