How to Prevent the Cold: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

2025 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-23 12:04

Every winter, flu and cold hit, and it felt like entering a sick lottery. However, there are many ways that can be done to reduce the chances of contracting a viral disease. After a cold, take immediate action to cure it.

Step

Part 1 of 2: Preventing the Cold during the Cold Season

Step 1. Limit contact with public objects

This includes transportation, work, or simply public bathrooms. If you can't wipe a public object with a disinfecting tissue before using it, don't use it.

Step 2. Wash your hands frequently

This will protect you and others. Wash your hands by scrubbing your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for 30 seconds.

Step 3. Don't touch your face

Get used to not touching the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. The greatest risk comes from touching public objects, then touching germs to your face.

Step 4. Use clean paper towels so you don't have to touch objects when you go to the bathroom

After washing your hands thoroughly, use paper towels to turn off the faucet and open the door. Dispose of the tissue in a trash can that can be opened without using your hands.

Step 5. Use hand sanitizer during peak cold and flu season

You may have heard that it's not a good idea to overuse these products, but hand sanitizer is the best option out of all the hand cleaning options. Use hand sanitizer regularly in winter, after touching computers, cell phones, banisters, or conference tables.

Step 6. Get enough sleep

Stress control and sleep complement each other in keeping the immune system strong. When workloads or emotional stress keep you from sleeping, it's almost impossible to prevent a cold.

Step 7. Boost immunity by exercising for at least 20 minutes every day

The gym is full of cold and flu germs. So, wipe the equipment before and after using it, or just exercise at home.

Step 8. Consume vitamin C, Echinacea, and raw garlic to keep your immunity strong

You can get these ingredients in pill form, if you don't like making tea or using raw garlic in cooking. The best sources of these ingredients are always those that can be directly included in the diet.

Part 2 of 2: Cure Colds As Soon As They Start

Step 1. Take a zinc lozenge

Several studies have shown that as soon as a cold starts to appear, taking a zinc glutamate lozenge every two to three hours for the first 48 hours is the best way to go. This method can shorten the duration of the pain by half.

Step 2. Rest your body

Schedule an extra two hours of bedtime at night, and an extra nap. The body needs to dedicate more time to rest. So, clear some of your schedule when you feel the cold start to occur.

Step 3. Drink a tea containing ginger, lemon, honey, goldenseal, and Echinacea

Herbal teas are a great way to increase your fluid intake to help your body fight the cold. Cold and flu-fighting tea sachets sold at the grocery store may even give you a mental boost, as you feel as if you are actively fighting a cold.

Step 4. Avoid alcohol completely

While hot whiskey is sometimes thought of as a miracle cure, you're actually making your body work harder to process the alcohol while trying to heal the cold.

Step 5. Eat vegetable chicken soup and other nutrient-rich foods

Stay away from sugar, refined carbohydrates, and fatty meats. Instead, eat lentil soup, fruit salad, bruschetta on toasted whole-grain bread, stir-fried beef and garlic with wild rice and chicken.

Fruits, such as oranges and berries, are great for getting your vitamin C intake. It's much better for the body to get vitamin C from food than from supplements. Broccoli, cabbage, and spinach are also good sources of vitamin C

Step 6. Do 20 minutes of cardio every day

Unless you have a fever, exercise can increase your body's response. Try to exercise outside, in the sun, if you can. Vitamin E from sun/skin contact is also good for the immune system.

If you can't get sunlight, buy a solar lamp. Place it near a table and turn it on for 45 minutes every day while sick.
Avoid excessive exercise during illness, as it can cause the opposite reaction. Do moderate exercise for at least 20 minutes for best results.

Step 7. Try spicy curry for dinner

Make sure that one of the main ingredients of the curry is fenugreek. This commonly used Indian spice has been researched and proven to relieve cold and flu symptoms.

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