Tips On How To Avoid The Hell That Is The Common Cold This Winter
For a fair few of you, this may be your first time away from home and your mother's loving care when you get a little run down. No chance of that now. Your roommate isn't the caring type and your boyfriend is in college three hours away. Looks like you're by yourself kid. So, try to follow these precautions so you don't spiral into a mucous driveling contagious mess of germs. I just have to go and try to follow my own advice before I succumb to the disease that crosses all social boundaries and can be cured by no man-made medicine, whose cure is only time: the common cold.
1) Keep Warm
Totally obvious but pretty simple. It's cold out so wrap up. There's a reason why it's called the common cold. Ditch the tights for thicker leggings; invest in a scarf or three, gloves and a hat; wear a coat that is both a) waterproof and b) warm; buy boots that won't let the water in and will keep your toes warm. Use extra blankets and hot water bottles when going to bed, or find a cuddle buddy (giggidy giggidy).
2) Keep Clean
You will be coming in contact with germ-filled college classmates, professors and commuters, so take precautions. Wash your hands and wash your person. You'll smell nice and won't be sniffly and sneezing all the time. Result!
3) Turn down the heating
I know this might sound crazy to your slowly freezing self but try not to have the heating on all the time. Overuse of central heating reduces your immune defenses as well as decreasing the amount of money in your wallet. Plus it dries out protective mucous in your nasal passages and dry and stuffy air can lead to sore throats and can aggravate chest issues like asthma. So open a window every now and then or invest in a humidifier, or like rob one from home.
4) Hydrate
The scientists and health teachers say that we should all drink 8 glasses of water a day - whatever that means. Like eight shot glasses or pint glasses? Drink whenever you're thirsty. Don't fancy drinking pints of water all day? Drink juice, tea, coffee, have soup. Keep the liquids flowing and let your kidneys flush out any evil bad bacteria in your veins (science!). Alcohol doesn't quite quench your thirst and will steal tomorrow's energy away from you. So maybe lay off on the sauce.
5) Relax
Try not to work so hard, de-stress and try to get a good night's sleep most nights. Conserve energy and maybe don't spend every night out in the college bar doing shots in next to no clothes while it's lashing rain and you've no coat. Take it easy every once in a while and stay in with Netflix and a cup of tea. Winter will suck a whole lot more if you're ill.
6) Eat Well
Eat foods with zinc (meat, eggs, seafood, tofu, wheat germ), plenty of fruit and berries for Vitamin C as well as anti-oxidants. Maybe try and include some multi-vitamins on your next grocery shop. Echinacea is supposed to be great for warding off the cold but taking too much over a long period of time loses its benefit to you. Garlic is good for relieving chest complaints and taking small amounts daily can help reduce the amount of colds you can get, allegedly. I doubt extra garlic bread with your dinner every night will help though.