Natural Remedies for the Cold and Flu

There is nothing worse than getting sick right before an important event, a grade-depending exam or in those days right before the beginning of a new semester!

As schedules start to fill, there really is no time for delay – making it that more important to keep our bodies in optimal health.

Joseph Roth, a second year graduate student in exercise science, does what he calls the “Neanderthal diet” when he is sick.

“If you can’t pick it or kill it, then don’t eat it,” Roth said.

This method of selecting foods cuts high-processed foods and incorporates whole foods like fruits and vegetables.

Roth tries to stay as hydrated as possible with lots of water and adds supplements to his diet such as a multivitamin and vitamin C, in addition to continuing to exercise.

While he doesn’t go out and run a marathon, remaining active helps combat sickness and Roth swears by it.

“Getting light, moderate exercise will help with congestion,” Roth said. “Rest is important, but getting up and moving really helps.”

Katie Babcock, a senior studying dietetics, said that she regularly takes a multivitamin, but during the winter months vitamin C is added into her daily supplements as a booster for the immune system.

Babcock also limits her intake of processed foods and tries to get 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

While it’s rare to see Babcock drinking anything but water to stay hydrated, she often adds Crystal Light natural cherry pomegranate antioxidant to her water when she feels she might be coming down with something.

“I try and stay away from cold and flu medicines and do things as naturally as possible,” Babcock said.

Leah Markel, a health professor who works in community health, tries to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables while limiting processed foods and incorporating a vitamin C supplement and finds all types of preventative medicine to be beneficial.

“Choosing a healthy lifestyle improves quality of life,” Markel said.

When it comes down to it, avoiding sickness and remaining healthy is not only about eating healthy, but also about living a well-rounded healthy lifestyle.

This includes exercising, getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, managing stress and taking care of your mental health.

Getting healthy and preventing sickness means eliminating as many toxins as possible, allowing your body to function and heal properly. So, if you feel yourself catching something, incorporate foods packed with antioxidants such as berries, apples and oranges.

Tea made with ginger root also goes a long way in aiding health, as ginger root is a well-known natural remedy for cold, flu, nausea, chills and indigestion.

It’s easy to say this time of year is packed with sniffles and sneezes, choose not to be a sickness victim and keep up with our natural tips and tricks.