When sick, or when trying to prevent a cold from catching on, there are a few things that I always do. (Note: as a teacher, I spend most of the fall and winter trying not to get sick — work is practically a giant petri dish sometimes). I tend to get a cold here and there – usually one in the beginning of the season (ahem, like right now), and one at the very end. I think that the fact that I am so mindful of these things keeps me from getting full-blown debilitating illnesses each year.
My Must Haves for Cold Season:
- Neti Pot - I swear by this thing. Traditionally it was used by yogis to ensure clear airways for practice and meditation. I posted about it here some time ago, and perhaps one day I’ll be brave enough to post my own video using it. Basically, you pour a warm saline solution through your nostrils. The solution fills up you sinus cavities and flushes out the bad stuff. I even use this in the summer – living in the city I think I breathe in a lot of nastiness.
- Tea. All sorts of teas, but specifically green, white, chamomile, and mint. White and green are loaded with antioxidants. Chamomile is really soothing, and mint is great for sore throats.
- Whole Fruits and Veggies. This probably speaks for itself, but specifically red bell peppers. I’ve never a huge fan of citrus fruits, save for Clementines in December, and red bell peppers contain almost 4x as much Vitamin C as an orange – who knew?
- Soup. Homemade soup is always best, but when you don’t have the time (interest or resources), I highly recommend Amy’s. They even carry an excellent “No Chicken Noodle” soup that’ll really take you back.
I’m trying a few new things that could possibly be added to this repertoire – wheat grass and green monsters. I’ll keep you posted on any new additions.
In the meantime, stay warm, wash your hands (often), and build up your defenses against a winter cold!
