Seasonal changes have a way of letting us know. As the air turns chilly, many feel a spike in health problems such as sore throats, stuffy nose, common cold and flu-like symptoms. Plying yourself up with antibiotics, painkillers and decongestants may not be the wisest thing to do, considering their many side effects. If it’s effective remedies you seek, don’t go any further than your kitchen cabinet. Because that’s where some of the best remedies for the common cold lie.

Why Do You Get Sick When The Season Changes?

When you say you have a cold, what you mean is that you have a common cold. Although they go away on their own and are harmless, common colds can be annoying. It can leave you with a sore throat, a runny nose and general weakness.

Seasonal changes often coincide with increased incidences of colds. People seem to come down with illnesses when there’s a shift in temperature. Ever wondered why?

Studies have shown that rather than the temperature itself, it is the viruses that thrive in cooler weathers that cause common colds. The two culprits, rhinovirus and coronavirus, spread when the weather is cool and dry.

In addition to this, a study published in PNAS showed that when the temperature drops by seven degrees, your body finds it tough to stop these viruses that cause colds. 6 Tips To Keep Cold At Bay This Monsoon Naturally.

Cold Remedies That Work

Some people are more vulnerable than the others when it comes to colds, either due to a weak immune system or due to allergies. But the good news is that there are plenty of science-backed techniques to prevent common colds from happening in the first place. Home Remedies For Acidity and Gas: Symptoms and Causes + Tips To Cure Acid Reflux Naturally.

Eat Probiotics

Probiotics are foods that include live cultures which are good for your health. They supply your body with good bacteria, which co-exist inside you harmoniously, providing a lot of health benefits. Studies have proven that bacterial strains such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium are good for treating a common cold. Foods like yoghurt, pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi.

Gargling

Gargling with salt water is an age-old remedy for a sore throat, recommended by grandmas all over the world. And they have a point. A study shows that frequent gargling with water reduces chances of upper respiratory tract infection. If you are prone to colds, start your day with gargling.

Honey

One of the best remedies for cold symptoms like a sore throat and cough is honey. According to a 2007 study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, honey proved to be better than cough suppressant dextromethorphan in treating cough in children. Honey is also an old folk remedy to soothe sore throats.

Turmeric

What you need when you are down with cold is a powerful immune booster like turmeric. Drinking turmeric water or turmeric milk will help in modulating your immune system when you are feeling under the weather.

Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is often considered sick people food, but new research has reasons to believe that chicken soup’s therapeutic ability may not be a myth after all. A hot bowl of soup can work in more than one ways to stave off and fight a cold. Inhaling the steam raises the temperature inside your respiratory passage and loosens the mucus. The additional ingredients that go into a chicken soup like celery, mushrooms, parsley, onions, carrots, etc. have nutritional properties that help in strengthening the immune system against the cold.

Ginger

Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory food that not only soothes sore throats but also reduces inflammation in the body. Fresh ginger also has antiviral activity, which fights the syncytial virus in the respiratory tract. Drink its juice or chew a piece as a lozenge, ginger is one of the best remedies for common cold.

Garlic

Garlic contains the potent ingredient allicin, which has antimicrobial activity. Adding garlic to your diet may help lessen the symptoms of a cold. Eating it whole may also help, but many don’t like the aftertaste it leaves in the mouth.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C nourishes the immune system, giving it the strength to fight any infection that comes its way. Eating foods rich in vitamin C, like citruses, gooseberries, strawberries and pineapple, provides a big boost of the sunshine vitamin to your body.

Water

Keeping yourself hydrated is one of the most forgotten rules of treating a cold. It’s one piece of sage advice you cannot afford to ignore. Although water on its help in banishing a cold, it will help replace lost fluids, loosen congestion and prevent your health from getting worse.

Handwashing

The importance of handwashing cannot be overstated in preventing colds. It's said that washing your hands regularly reduces your chances of catching a cold by 45 percent.  Experts recommend that you wash your hands with soap for a total of 20 seconds to neutralise the germs in it.

Colds can be annoying. But we are at the cusp of a seasonal change and avoiding colds can be difficult. Follow these easy remedies to keep your immune system healthy.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 07, 2018 06:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).