With all the changing weather throughout the midwest, it seems like everyone is catching a cold. These colds not only have the potential to keep you out of the gym, they also can seem to drag on for weeks. Cold remedies are almost as common as the common cold, but are they effective? Nothing can cure a cold, but there are some remedies that might help ease your symptoms and keep you from feeling so miserable.
Cold remedies that work
If you catch a cold, you can expect to be sick for one to two weeks. That doesn’t mean you have to be miserable! Besides getting enough rest, these remedies might help you feel better:
- Stay hydrated. Water, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid juice, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which can make dehydration worse and some are high in sugar.
- Rest.Your body needs to heal.
- Soothe a sore throat. A saltwater gargle — 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water — can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat.
- Combat stuffiness. Over-the-counter saline nasal drops and sprays can help relieve stuffiness and congestion.
- Sip warm liquids. A cold remedy used in many cultures, taking in warm liquids, such as chicken soup, tea or warm apple juice, might be soothing and might ease congestion by increasing mucus flow.
- Add moisture to the air. A cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier can add moisture to your home, which might help loosen congestion. Change the water daily, and clean the unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
While all of these will not eliminate your cold overnight, they will help to keep you hydrated and ready to be back in the gym in no time!
Emily Vanderwalde
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