You’ll put that tissue box away. These remedies may ward off the pesky bugs that cause colds-or at least get you back on your feet sooner.
GINGER TEA
One of the oldest medical drinks is used to alleviate stress and the inflammation that can weaken your body’s immune response when you’ve got an oncoming cold. Simmer ginger in hot water for 20 minutes, then add lemon slices and honey and sip away.
CINNAMON
This versatile and fragrant spice deactivates viruses by damaging their outer coating, according to researchers out of Touro College in New York City. Sprinkle one to two tablespoons a day on sweet or savory dishes.
PROBIOTICS
Start a Daily probiotic now for milder colds later, says a study in the British Journal of Nutrition. When college students took a probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium every day for three months, they felt better up to two days earlier when they got a cold, their colds were less severe than for those popped a placebo.
SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS
After adults ate two to three rehydrated dried shiitakes every day for a month, their immune cells were stronger and quicker to react to potential invaders like viruses and bacteria, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
