It's right around now that everyone seems to get sick--the weather is starting to change, all the vacation days have been used up over the holidays, and it's time to start working hard again.
Thankfully, we can usually tell we're about to get sick right before we get sick. That means that there are some things you can do to ensure that your cold will be around for just a short time. Thank goodness!
So what do doctors do when they first realize they're getting sick?
Catherine Collins, a certified dietician says she takes Vitamin D. "Vitamin D enhances your body's production of a peptide called cathelicidin, which makes a virus more visible to your body's immune system. If I'm ill, I take between 10mg and 25mg of vitamin D per day with my main meal – it's best absorbed with food."
Philip Weeks, an acupuncturist and herbalist, swears by a cold shower. "Research shows that cold showers can increase your body's production of white blood cells, which fight infection. Just a quick blast of chilly water at the end of your usual shower will do."
Professor Ronald Eccles, director of Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre, on the other hand, insists a sauna is a perfect remedy. "Studies show that cold viruses replicate best at a cool 32°C – that's five degrees lower than regular body temperature – so, a sauna or a hot bath can stop the virus."
Shabir Daya, a pharmacist at Victoria Health, believes that stocking up on probiotics is your best bet. "As soon as I feel a cold coming on, I take up to four times my usual dose of probiotics. Given that the majority of our immune system is in our gut, it makes sense;"
If you want some more tried-and-true ways to shorten your cold, check out the video below:
Video Credit: AsapSCIENCE/YouTube
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