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Natural flu remedies

  • Half of all common colds are caused by rhinoviruses – small viruses that occur mainly in your nose – that are usually spread by person-to-person contact. “The transfer of infected mucus from hands or contaminated surfaces is the way most of those infections are acquired,” says Dr Alan Hampson, Chairman of the Influenza Specialist Group.
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    Flu Fighter Tip 1: Wash, rinse, repeat

    Half of all common colds are caused by rhinoviruses – small viruses that occur mainly in your nose – that are usually spread by person-to-person contact. “The transfer of infected mucus from hands or contaminated surfaces is the way most of those infections are acquired,” says Dr Alan Hampson, Chairman of the Influenza Specialist Group.
  • Yes, you read that right: though it’s been touted as a cold fighter for decades, a review of clinical trials published in the <i>Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews</i> found it does zilch to speed up recovery.
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    Flu Fighter Tip 2: Don't rely on Vitamin C

    Yes, you read that right: though it’s been touted as a cold fighter for decades, a review of clinical trials published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found it does zilch to speed up recovery.
  • Line up your best 'D'-fence! “Growing evidence shows that low vitamin D levels can contribute to poor first-line immunity against infection,” says Dr Hampson. He says that if your levels are low, a vitamin D supplement or more sunlight at a safe level of exposure (a few minutes of sun outside the hours 10am to 3pm) will help.
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    Flu Fighter Tip 3: Increase your Vitamin D

    Line up your best 'D'-fence! “Growing evidence shows that low vitamin D levels can contribute to poor first-line immunity against infection,” says Dr Hampson. He says that if your levels are low, a vitamin D supplement or more sunlight at a safe level of exposure (a few minutes of sun outside the hours 10am to 3pm) will help.
  • People who routinely get fewer than seven hours of shut-eye a night triple their risk of developing a cold compared with those who doze for eight or more hours, according to the <i>Archives of Internal Medicine</i>. When sleep-deprived, your body may produce too many cytokines, the proteins that trigger cold symptoms when you’re sick.
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    Flu Fighter Tip 4: Sleep more

    People who routinely get fewer than seven hours of shut-eye a night triple their risk of developing a cold compared with those who doze for eight or more hours, according to the Archives of Internal Medicine. When sleep-deprived, your body may produce too many cytokines, the proteins that trigger cold symptoms when you’re sick.
  • Skip that second (and third) drink. Alcohol can impair your white blood cells’ ability to combat viruses for up to 24 hours when you overdo it, says a study in BMC Immunology. Keep your drinking to a reasonable one drink per day during the cold and flu season.
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    Flu Fighter Tip 6: Limit alcohol consumption

    Skip that second (and third) drink. Alcohol can impair your white blood cells’ ability to combat viruses for up to 24 hours when you overdo it, says a study in BMC Immunology. Keep your drinking to a reasonable one drink per day during the cold and flu season.
  • Fight the Flu
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    Fight the Flu

    Fight the Flu
Half of all common colds are caused by rhinoviruses – small viruses that occur mainly in your nose – that are usually spread by person-to-person contact. “The transfer of infected mucus from hands or contaminated surfaces is the way most of those infections are acquired,” says Dr Alan Hampson, Chairman of the Influenza Specialist Group.
Yes, you read that right: though it’s been touted as a cold fighter for decades, a review of clinical trials published in the <i>Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews</i> found it does zilch to speed up recovery.
Line up your best 'D'-fence! “Growing evidence shows that low vitamin D levels can contribute to poor first-line immunity against infection,” says Dr Hampson. He says that if your levels are low, a vitamin D supplement or more sunlight at a safe level of exposure (a few minutes of sun outside the hours 10am to 3pm) will help.
People who routinely get fewer than seven hours of shut-eye a night triple their risk of developing a cold compared with those who doze for eight or more hours, according to the <i>Archives of Internal Medicine</i>. When sleep-deprived, your body may produce too many cytokines, the proteins that trigger cold symptoms when you’re sick.
Skip that second (and third) drink. Alcohol can impair your white blood cells’ ability to combat viruses for up to 24 hours when you overdo it, says a study in BMC Immunology. Keep your drinking to a reasonable one drink per day during the cold and flu season.
Fight the Flu
Women's Health

If you plan to quarantine yourself to stay well this winter, don’t bother. There are more effective ways to fight the flu and bolster your defenses.