While preventing colds and flu is always best, the virus has been found to find its most effective times of action in the fall and winter months. If you’ve had the flu, here are some tips to help you recover.
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Five keys to reducing the duration and severity of symptoms
The important thing is to reduce the discomfort that the flu can cause after the virus has infected us, and also to reduce the time that it is present so that the set of symptoms that causes the disease can be identified as soon as possible.
Therefore, the following five tips can make recovery easier.
Vitamin C does not help prevent colds or the flu, but it has been shown to reduce symptoms of this disease by 85% when taken in large amounts (1 gram or more per day). Eating other foods rich in vitamin C can be very helpful in promoting recovery from colds and flu.
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Adequate hydration helps “clear” the airways and remove any mucus present, so drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and relieve nasal congestion. Remember that you can drink water through infusions, other liquids, foods or formulations rich in water.
Include garlic in your regular diet. It has not been shown that its consumption reduces the incidence of influenza and colds, but a study published in Clinical Nutrition found that the compounds in garlic act on the defense system, so it is recommended during the period in which the disease is more frequent. Regardless of the form of garlic you consume, it is recommended that you grind or mince it beforehand to activate its beneficial compounds such as allicin.
According to American scientists, supplementing the diet with brewer’s yeast also provides minerals and elements that are involved in the body’s defense system, thus significantly reducing the symptoms and duration of flu and colds.
Consuming echinacea tea reduces flu symptoms and eliminates the viruses that cause infection in a shorter period than the traditional period of five days or more, according to a study published in 2004.
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These five tips will help you alleviate cold and flu symptoms, promote recovery with a healthy lifestyle, strengthen your defenses, and help you recover from the stress that flu puts on your body.
