Avoiding getting sick during cold and flu season can be difficult. The influenza virus can be spread through droplets in the air every time an infected person talks, sneezes, or coughs. Since the virus is easily spread, that means we are all potential targets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, more than 20 million illnesses are caused by the flu. Even though prevention is critical, despite all of your best efforts, it’s still possible to get sick (especially with numbers that high!). The risk for developing the flu during the fall, winter, and even spring season is high, making the cold and flu season longer than you think. However, if you happen to get sick, don’t fret. There are plenty of natural flu remedies that can help you get some relief.
With flu season in full swing, it’s essential to stay healthy if you want to be able to fight your best fight against the flu. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can go a long way to prevent and fight off the flu, but you can also try out these natural flu remedies to help you get back on your feet.
Get Some Sleep– Getting a good night’s rest is important when you have the flu since sleeping can help boost your immune system. So, if you happen to love sleep, this is not a problem. However, if you usually don’t make sleep a priority, make sure you do, in this case, if you want to get back on your feet quickly.
Stay Hydrated– Staying well-hydrated is a great way to “flush” out the virus since dehydration can delay your recovery. No one wants to remain sick, so be sure you are drinking enough fluids. Having the flu can leave you dehydrated, especially if you have diarrhea or are vomiting, so drink up.
Increase Your Zinc– Zinc helps the body create white blood cells that can help fight off germs and the flu virus. As an added bonus, zinc might even help ease your cold and flu symptoms. If you don’t have time to eat much or don’t eat a well-balanced diet, you can take a zinc supplement. Otherwise, you can get plenty of zinc from eating a balanced diet.
Drink Herbal Tea– If you are not a tea drinker, you may want to make an exception when you have the flu. Green teas and herbal teas both contain antioxidants and can help fight off germs with its natural antibacterial and antiviral properties. So if you want to feel better quicker, sip on some elderberry, echinacea, ginger, or peppermint tea. Just make sure you are using high-quality honey to add some sweetness to your tea.
Inhale Steam– Breathing in the steam from a hot shower or over a warm pot of water is an excellent way to soothe your sinuses, nose, throat, and lungs. Inhaling steam can also help loosen mucus and may even help relieve swelling in the nose and lungs, soothe a dry cough, as well as help relieve chest tightness. If you want to add some antiviral benefits, add a few drops of essential oils to the water before you breathe deeply.
Vitamin C IV Therapy– When you are feeling under the weather and need some quick relief, high dose vitamin C IV therapy can help. Essential to the human body, vitamin C can help the body heal and help reduce the severity of the flu. Vitamin C can work even better when it’s administered intravenously. When we ingest vitamin C, not all of it is absorbed into the bloodstream, but when you undergo vitamin C IV therapy, it becomes 100% bioavailable. At The Salerno Center, we recommend 2 to 3 days of consecutive vitamin C IV treatments to help get you back on your feet.
If you are interested in vitamin C IV therapy to help you prevent or fight off the flu, give us a call or contact us today to learn more!
