How to NOT Catch A Cold

Contrary to popular belief, cold viruses are not caused by low temperatures (though they certainly thrive); it’s because low temperatures drive us indoors into tight, poorly ventilated spaces where it’s easier to contact or get a cold virus.
But colds do not have to be an inevitable part of fall and winter.
Here’s how you can cut down your chances and beat the odds:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soap
• Access to clean water
• Willingness to reduce sugar intake
• Vitamin C-tablets, pills, orange, grapefruit or other juices
• Herbs
• Willingness to do some exercise

1. 

   Take Up Some Form of Exercise.
   If you just sit around constantly, you’re prone to getting sick. Being physically active will kick up your immune system by almost 60 percent.

2. 

   Reduce Your Daily (Or Weekly) Intake Of Sugar And Other Sweets.
   Did you know that too much sugar can minimize the immune system? Now I’m not saying to totally cut out sweets, just try eating healthier (instead of three cans of soft drinks daily, perhaps one or two a week, for example) and more well-balanced meals, fruits and veggies (particularly green), less red meat, more fish and so on.

3. 

   Take Vitamin C And Virus-Fighting Herbs.
   A daily dose of vitamin C (2,000 mg.) will lessen the severity and duration of cold symptoms.
   For Further Virus-Fighting, The Best Herb To Take Is Probably Garlic (it contains allicin, which has immune-booster properties). You can take garlic tablets (about 900 mg. daily) or better yet, garlic can be prepared and eaten in a million ways; it totally enhances the flavor of numerous food!
   Other immune-boosting herbs are Echinacea (450 to 900 mg. daily) and Goldenseal (contains berberine, which stimulates the immune system and prevents mucous membrane inflammation).

4. 

   Try To Stay Calm, Cool And Collected.
   People who are under great stress (not just by their own internal stress levels, but by stressful events in their lives) are twice as likely to develop colds. It’s because stress sets off the release of hormones that weaken the immune system.
   Now you can try yoga and meditation (but they’re not completely effective all the time). The Best thing to do is slow down, reduce your commitments if possible or tackle them later, and don’t sweat the small stuff. You’ll remain healthy and will have more strength and energy to deal with real problems.

5. 

   Wash Your Hands As Often As You Can.
   It’s the single best way to keep a cold away. Why?
   Because cold-inducing microbes usually get into your system by your hands (if you touch a surface that a cold sufferer has previously touched-thereby spreading viruses-then rub your eyes or scratch your nose-BOOM! You now have a cold.)

Tips & Warnings

• If You Still Get A Cold Anyway (and if you have small children, well…), drink a lot of fluids like orange and grapefruit juices (vitamin C), tea and chicken broth (and soup).
• Use decongestants sparingly (the side effects can be worse than the cold itself).

[silviamendes]

on 10/5/2009 Great advice!