Cold Remedies: Proven Methods To Shorten a Cold

When you come down with a cold, the symptoms are usually mild but can still be very uncomfortable. The good news is that colds usually go away on their own within a week or so, both you might be pretty miserable until your symptoms finally subside. 

So, what can you do to ease symptoms in the meantime? There are plenty of home remedies that you can turn to to find some relief. This is your complete guide to treating a cold and shortening the duration of your discomfort. 

Strengthening Your Immune System

Your immune system is your body’s main defense against pathogens like germs, bacteria, and viruses. If you have a weak immune system, you are much more susceptible to illness and infection, and these illnesses and infections may hang around for longer than usual. This is why a strong immune system is a key component of recovering from a cold. 

If you are not sure whether or not you have a strong immune system, our guide to the 5 main signs of a strong immune system may be able to help you out! 

That said, here are a few things you can do to strengthen your immune system and up your defense against illness and infection. 

Vitamins and Supplements 

Vitamins and supplements are a fantastic way to support and strengthen your immune system, especially if you are a picky eater or are on a restrictive diet. 

While there are plenty of benefits from any kind of vitamin, these vitamins are specifically known for their ability to support your immune system:

• Vitamin C, which can be found in berries, citrus fruits, spinach, brussel sprouts, and bell peppers
  
  
• Vitamin E, which can be found in almonds, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, and soybean oil
  
  
• Vitamin A, which is abundant in carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, butternut squash, cantaloupe, and dark leafy greens
  
  
• Vitamin D, which can be found in salmon, tuna, sardines, and fortified milk, orange juice, or cereal
  
  
• Zinc is essential for the production of new immune system cells, and it can be found in oysters, crab, lean meats and poultry, yogurt, and chickpeas

All of these vitamins play a role in strengthening your immune system, and if you are not eating enough of the foods that are full of vitamins like these, you may be in need of a multivitamin or supplement. Even if you get sufficient amounts of vitamins from food alone, supplements can still give you that extra boost, especially when cold and flu season rolls around. 

If you are looking for a new immunity booster to take care of any gaps in your diet when you are fighting a cold, we have you covered here at GoBiotix. 

Our Immunity Fizz Wellness Booster is formulated to strengthen and protect your immune system and is packed full of antioxidants, superfoods, and vitamins and minerals. Elderberry, vitamin C, and turmeric extract are just a few of the superfood ingredients included in this product so that you can reap the benefits. All of these healthful ingredients work together to amp up your defense against illness, and this product is non-GMO with no refined sugars.

Probiotics 

Probiotics are another element of a healthy and strong immune system, and you can find them in fermented foods like sauerkraut, kombucha, and yogurts. 

If you do not find yourself eating very much of these foods, you may be in need of a probiotic multivitamin like our Complete Probiotic Multivitamin, with 25 billion CFUs of probiotics in every serving. Not only can this multivitamin work to boost your immune system, but it also works to soothe and regulate digestion, improve brain function and thinking skills, and restore good bacteria. Thus, while you are supporting your immune system, you are also supporting the rest of your body, too. 

Home Remedies for a Cold

Aside from vitamins and other means of strengthening your immune system, home remedies can also work to ease your cold symptoms and help you recover. Coupling these remedies with methods of boosting and protecting your immune system may give you the best results!

Common home remedies for symptoms of a cold include:

• Drinking warm liquids: Warm liquids like tea can help soothe symptoms of a cold like a sore throat, cough, and stuffy nose. This method works by soothing irritated airways and increasing the flow of mucus which decreases congestion.
  
  
• Honey: Adding some honey into your warm tea can work wonders thanks to its ability to soothe a cough. 
  
  
• Adding moisture to the air: Adding moisture into the air can help alleviate your symptoms, because dry air can worsen irritated airways and a sore throat. There are a few ways you can approach this method. One way is to use a humidifier or vaporizer to improve the air conditions large-scale. On the other hand, you can also run a hot shwoer and sit in the steam for a while to loosen congestion and ease a cough, or you can fill a sink with hot water and lean over it with a towel over your head to keep the steam near your face. Any of these methods may prove to be highly effective at lessening your discomfort. 
  
  
• Getting plenty of rest: Arguably the most important thing you can do for yourself when you are under-the-weather is to get plenty of rest. When you are asleep, your body takes that time to recharge and replenish itself, so this is when most of your healing will take place. 

When To Call a Doctor

Though colds are usually nothing to worry about, if your symptoms become unusually severe, if you have a high and persistent fever, or experience severe chest or abdominal pain, these are signs that you should call a doctor. 

Additionally, if your symptoms do not respond to medicine or do not go away within two weeks, you should consult a doctor to make sure that nothing more serious is causing your symptoms. Sometimes, the flu can disguise itself as just a cold, so if you start having flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches or a fever, the flu may be the culprit of your discomfort. 

The Bottom Line

A cold will typically resolve on its own without treatment in 7-10 days, but the symptoms can be pretty uncomfortable in the meantime, so if you are looking for ways to shorten the duration of your cold we have you covered!

One of the best ways to fight a cold is to strengthen your immune system, because this is your body’s defense against germs, viruses, and bacteria. You can support and strengthen your immune system by making sure to incorporate a variety of healthful foods into your diet, or by opting for a multivitamin like those offered by GoBiotix. Our multivitamins are full of superfoods, antioxidants, and essential vitamins and minerals to take the stress out of boosting your immunity. 

Home remedies can also come in handy as a means of easing your discomfort while you recover, and things like getting plenty of sleep and drinking warm liquids can help you recover more quickly. 

Sources

8 Vitamins & Minerals You Need for a Healthy Immune System - Cleveland Clinic

Cold remedies: What works, what doesn't, what can't hurt - Mayo Clinic

10 Signs You Should Go See the Doctor - Houston Methodist Hospital