Faster Cold Recovery: Immune Tips to Get Over a Seasonal Cold
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, approximately 1 billion (yes, billion with a "b") get the seasonal cold every year. And while symptoms typically don’t last longer than 10 days, all that sniffling and stuffiness is nothing to sneeze at. If you want faster cold recovery, try these immune-boosting tips to speed up how quickly you get over the common cold.
Researchers have found that mindfulness practices help with respirator illnesses.
A groundbreaking study, published a few years ago in the Annals of Family Medicine research journal, found that meditation had fascinating impacts on your respiratory health.
In the randomized controlled clinical trials, three groups of adults aged 50 years and older were guided through various forms of mindfulness and meditation. The researchers concluded that a regular meditation practice helped with the immune system’s response to various respiratory illnesses and viruses.
The reasons are complex.
Perhaps it’s because, as several studies highlight, meditation helps with sleep (and better sleep improves immune system strength). Or maybe it’s because meditation helps with stress, and stress impairs your immune system.
Whatever the reasons, using mindfulness and meditation (e.g. prayer, yoga, Tai Chi, silent meditation, etc.) can help speed up your cold recovery and help you ward off many other forms of respiratory illnesses and viruses.
Try mindfulness and meditation for 30 minutes each morning when you’re sick, and bring your awareness to your body to check in frequently on how you’re feeling.
The natural foods, herbs and options offered by Mother Nature are beneficial for cold recovery.
Antibiotics, while commonly taken for the cold and flu, do nothing for the cold virus. In fact, the National Institutes of Health warn that taking the wrong thing for the common cold can actually hamper your cold recovery and make your illness worse.
Instead, consider taking natural supplements that gently, yet powerfully, support your natural immune response. The National Institutes of Health report that the following herbs and vitamins may be beneficial for cold recovery, although more research is needed:
The enzymes, antioxidants and flavonoids in your average chicken soup may speed up cold recovery.
Drinking enough liquids is one of the most effective ways to recover from the common cold, reports the American Lung Association.
“This will help keep the lining of the nose and throat from drying out, so that mucus remains moist and easy to clear from the nose,” explains the association.
A strong mucus lining helps you recover faster, and it also helps prevent other viral infections.
But don’t just drink water.
Several well-studied ways to stay hydrated may actually improve your immune system strength:
1. Pray Away the Cold
Researchers have found that mindfulness practices help with respirator illnesses.
2. Tap Into Mother Nature’s Medicine Cabinet
The natural foods, herbs and options offered by Mother Nature are beneficial for cold recovery.
- American Ginseng
- Echinacea
- Garlic
- Probiotics
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
3. Grab a Cup of Cold Recovery
The enzymes, antioxidants and flavonoids in your average chicken soup may speed up cold recovery.
- Chicken soup: Numerous studies have shown that this common cure, dished out by moms across America to sick children for decades, doesn’t just taste good. The enzymes, antioxidants and flavonoids in your average chicken soup may actually speed up cold recovery!
- Tea and honey: Tea, especially green tea, white tea and black tea, is exceptionally high in catechins that improve immune system responses. Add a little dollop of organic, raw honey to your tea. It’ll satisfy your sweet cravings, and honey is also rich in immunity-enhancing compounds.
- Alkaline water: While drinking any form of pure, filtered water helps your mucus lining and overall immune system, a growing body of research suggests that alkaline water may also have properties that improve overall wellness and speed up illness recovery. Plus, many alkaline water filters help increase the water’s natural levels of calcium, magnesium and other immune-enhancing minerals.