For the most part, catching the common cold is inevitable, but there are simple ways to help prevent colds. There are also many simple, as well as natural, ways to help treat colds. One of the easiest, and most natural, methods is with healing foods. There are many foods that can help to both treat and prevent colds. Some of these healing foods for a cold include citrus fruits, garlic and onions.
Citrus Fruits to Treat and Prevent Colds
Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, which is the most important antioxidant to both treat and prevent colds. Vitamin C boosts the immune system to help fight against viruses like colds, and also helps to relieve and improve the symptoms of a cold.
Vitamin C is one of the easiest things to add to a diet during a cold. Vitamin C is found in many citrus fruits, which can be eaten during a cold, or their juice can be used. Vitamin C is also very effective in supplemental form and large dosages of vitamin C are safe. Ideally around 1,000 mg should be taken daily to help treat colds. If diarrhea occurs, which is rare, this dosage should be cut back to a comfortable amount.
Garlic and Onions to Treat and Prevent Colds
Garlic contains antiseptic compounds and also has many compounds that can help to improve the immune system. These can help to prevent colds, as well as help to speed up the recovery period of current colds and improve the symptoms associated with a cold. Garlic even contains one of the most potent broad-spectrum antibiotics, which is known as allicin. Allicin is found in members of the garlic family. Garlic has been proven to help prevent colds in many studies throughout the years and can easily be added to the diet or taken in supplemental form.
Onions contain many of the same compounds that are found in garlic. Onions have been used for centuries for general health, as well as to help with certain illnesses or symptoms. Onions were even mentioned in the Bible due to their antiseptic properties, in reference to helping with polluted water. Onions can easily be added to the diet, and some supplements can be taken that contain the compounds in onions for those who do not care for the taste of onions.
Although these healing foods can be very beneficial for those with a cold, they can also be paired with conventional, over-the-counter medicine for colds. They can also be paired along with any other type of natural medicine, such as herbal medicine or homeopathy.