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Sunday, August 08, 2010

How to beat the cold that's going around


Even though it's not quite cold season yet, the cold's been going around lately. People are getting head/chest colds in the middle of the summer that are lasting 2+ weeks. Since I've been hanging out with some friends with colds because I love them so much, I found myself fighting not to get sick for the last couple of weeks and was wondering what kind of things I could do to boost my immune system without paying any money (the pake in me). The first thing I wondered about was if caffeine would hinder my immune system from getting stronger. Struggling with a run-down feeling and having to work anyway, I just wanted a cup of tea! So with a little bit of research I have some answers that include but are not limited to:

Basic cold prevention:
  • regular exercise
  • green, white or chamomile tea (antioxidants and for chamomile essential oils and stress relief)
  • relaxing-not stressing out
Things that increase your likeliness of catching a cold:
  • poor sleep
  • stress
  • poor nutrition
  • cigarette smoking
What you can do once you feel like you are catching a cold
  • get enough rest
  • up your vitamin c and herbal supplements (essential oils, echinacea, zinc...)
  • stay hydrated- limit caffeine intake because it dehydrates your body (diuretic)
  • exercise moderately, can clear up congestion temporarily, endorphins boost immune system. Don't exercise with a fever or if you have a combination of asthma and a cold
  • stay away from processed foods and focus on eating more fruits, vegetables and protein
  • do something that fills you up (endorphins help boost immune system
  • pho (my magic remedy)
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