Now that fall is here, cold and flu season is upon us once again. So when you feel that tickle in your throat and feel a cold coming on, don’t stay in denial. There are things you can do before you hit the sack for a night of stuffy-nose sleep that can help cut off that illness that’s trying to creep in. Here’s what to do before bed to fight it off.
- Take a hot shower - It makes you feel good and could even help stop a cold from developing by clearing nasal passages.
- Gargle with salt water - In one study of 400 unhealthy subjects who gargled with salt water for 60 days during cold and flu season, upper respiratory tract infections went down by 40%.
- Get in bed a little early - We all know how important it is to get enough sleep, but it’s even more important when you’re under the weather. Sleeping poorly can negatively affect your immune system, leaving you more susceptible to infections and disease.
- Stay hydrated - Get it from a cup of warm soup, a mug of hot tea, or plain ol’ water, and your body will thank you for staying hydrated when you’re feeling sick.
- Make sure you’re eating enough, and make it healthy - You might not feel like eating much when you’re coming down with something, so it’s important to focus on getting plenty of immunity-boosting foods, like chickpeas, crushed red pepper, dark leafy greens, and garlic to help you fight off those infections naturally.
- Try some apple cider vinegar - It doesn’t taste great, but fans of apple cider vinegar swear it helps clean out your system and it does have a ton of vitamins and minerals in it, so you could give it a try to keep sickness away.
Source: Hello Giggles