This entry was posted 12 years, 3 months ago.
February 1, 2011
Winter is a cold and flu season, and very few of us manage to live it through without having at least some slight symptoms of cold for a certain period of time. It is actually very hard to prevent a cold, and only those who have a strong immune system can be more or less successful in warding off colds in winter. Naturopaths and herbalists offer a variety of natural solutions to boost the immune system in winter, and this way prevent and possibly combat such diseases as influenza, cold, bronchitis and so on.
According to the specialists, it is very important to pay a close attention to our diet. There are foods and meals like broths and soups, vegetable stews and others, which can provide our body with all important nutrients and vitamins, and also warm up and assist in fighting colds and flu. At the same time, nutritionists say that during this season we have to avoid the foods and meals which affect the function of our immune system. Those include all fried foods, all sweet and sugar-rich foods (especially carbonated drinks and commercially produced fruit juices), and also some dairy products.
At the same time, in winter we all need increased amounts of vitamin support. If you can not afford consuming lots of 100% organic fresh fruit and vegetables, you can opt for using certain vitamin supplements or antioxidant vitamins. Herbalists and physicians underline that in winter it is essential to provide your body with such mineral as zinc, as well as with Vitamins D and C. There are many natural sources of these nutrients, including citrus fruit, mushrooms and so on.
Finally, one more key recommendation for those who want to use natural solutions to boost the immune system in winter is drinking sufficient amounts of fluids. It is advised to drink either mineral water or your favorite herbal teas. All other beverages like coffee, milk or even freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juices are considered to be harder to digest. Proper hydration on an everyday basis is really very important, specialists say.
If you’ve got already sick and suffer from the symptoms of a cold or a flu, you can use herbal remedies and natural solutions to speed up the recovery. Herbal teas like ginger root tea, sage tea, coltsfoot tea, echinacea and others can be used without fears for side effects and negative reactions. If you have a running nose and a sore throat, you can try gargling salt water and washing your nasal channels with it. Remember that water should not be too hot. Keeping your nasal membranes moist with the help of special nasal sprays is also a valuable advice. Use menthol and eucalyptus candies to relieve the discomfort in your throat. Finally, the last but not the least recommendation: do not run to anywhere, stay in your bed and rest for a day or two – and you’ll recover much faster!
Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.
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