As the cold and flu season ramps up, the paranoia of catching any little bug has also increased this year due to COVID-19. It’s never fun to be sick, but this year especially, if you even have the sniffles, you’re banned from work until you get that test result back! We’re all so busy trying to make the best of online learning, staying connected with friends and family (from a distance), and working – the last thing we need is to catch the flu! If you’re like me and you don’t like getting sick to begin with and taking lots of medicine, then this is the place for you! I’ve done the research, so you don’t have to, on the best natural remedies that actually work and here they are:
Elderberry Syrup (AKA my secret weapon)
While this kind of seems like traditional medicine that you can get from your pharmacy, it’s actually a natural substitute with many healing properties. Elderberries help boost your immune system due to their high levels of antioxidants and vitamins. This magic syrup can be used preventatively or to treat symptoms like a cough or runny nose.
Hydration
While this seems obvious, most people forget to drink enough water throughout the day, which can compromise our immune systems. Our bodies are made up of 60% water – of course things won’t function properly if we aren’t replenishing that. Whether you prefer water, tea, or coconut water, drink up friends!
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a crucial vitamin for maintaining health. It has antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Research is testing Vitamin C as treatments for things like cancer and even COVID-19. Moral of the story is to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C in a day. Some rich sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits and their juices, cantaloupe, kiwi, and some vegetables like peppers and broccoli.
Sweat it out!
Keeping our bodies physically active helps us maintain overall health, but sweating can also help alleviate cold symptoms. If you can muster up the energy to do a little workout or dance party, amazing! If not, try taking a nice hot bath – and make extra sure to keep hydrated!
It’s important more than ever this year to keep our bodies healthy. While medicine is great and has its place, it’s nice to prevent getting sick if we can or fighting it off naturally. There’s something so satisfying about quickly getting rid of your flu with natural remedies and not medicine…anyone else feel that way, or is that just me?