How to Cure a Cold

No body likes to catch a cold. Luckily, it's usually easy to tell when one is coming on, and it IS possible to stop that nasty rhino virus in its tracks!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A large pot
• A towel
• Vitamin C supplements or high vitamin C foods
• Lots of liquids

1. When you wake up feeling not-quite-right, with a scratchy throat and maybe a bit of a headache, immediately put a pot of water on to boil. Once its nice and hot, throw a towel over your head and breathe in the steam for 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a super-steamy shower or take in a sauna. The heat zaps any nasty cold bugs still lingering in your nose, before they make it any further. The moisture prevents irritation, clears nasal passages, and breaks up any mucus that may be starting to form.
2. Drink LOTS of water, tea, and/or juice throughout the day. Being properly hydrated helps your body heal itself. Your pee should be clear, or very nearly so.
3. Pop a couple vitamin C supplements throughout the day. Don't go too overboard- a dose with each meal is fine. Eat citrus fruits, bell peppers, and other high vitamin C foods. Avoid dairy products, because these have a tendency to stimulate mucus production, which is exactly what you don't want if you're catching a cold! Also, don't eat a lot of fatty or rich foods- these take a lot of energy to digest, and you want your body to work on healing, not working a cheeseburger and milkshake out of your system!
4. Sometime during the day, work out. Depending on your level of fitness, this might be a moderately paced walk, or it might be a hour of cardio. You want to work up a good sweat and get your heart beating, but be careful not to exhaust yourself. When you raise your body temperature, viruses and bacteria die- it's the same concept your body uses when you have a fever. Getting your blood moving also means that oxygen and those helpful little white blood cells make it in great quantities all over your body.
5. Take a hot shower at the end of the day- the steam concept again. It also relaxes you and gets all the sweat off so you can....
6. Turn in early! A couple extra hours of sleep go a long way in your body' s healing process. If you're starting to feel sick, you'll probably be a little more tired than usual anyway. Pile on an extra blanket or two to keep your body temperature kind of elevated.

Tips & Warnings

• You might feel a slight burning sensation in your nose and chest when you work out. It's ok if it's a little uncomfortable, but stop if it's painful or difficult to breathe.
• Hot drinks are better than cold for soothing a sore throat and keeping airways clear. They also keep your body temperature up.
• Prevention is the best cure! Wash your hands often to avoid spreading germs, avoid sharing food/drinks, and try to keep your distance from people who are visibly ill.
• Don't work out if you already have a fever. It could damage the heart.