Are you tired of the nagging colds and coughs that stop you from doing the things you want? It sometimes can be really frustrating to pop in tablets and nasal drops to control them. Most people have side effects from consuming them to control the cold or the cough like an upset stomach or feeling drowsy after taking a medicine or a cough syrup. Today’s post will give you an insight into seven effective home remedies to combat colds and coughs to keep them at bay with success.
Let’s know more about them below-
1. Black Pepper Tea
You should always drink a cup of refreshing black pepper tea to reduce the severity of your symptoms of cold. All you have to do is add a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper into a cup of boiling water. Include two teaspoons of honey, some basil (Tulsi) leaves, a bit of ginger and powdered cardamon to the concoction. Cover and let the solution cool for at least 15 minutes. Then, strain before pouring it into another cup and sip. Black pepper aids in stimulating the blood circulation throughout your body and minimizes the mucus flow in your throat. Moreover, honey and ginger are traditional cough suppressants to help you tackle the cold better.
2. Bananas
Suffering from a severe cough and cold can seriously affect your appetite which will ultimately make you weak. You will not in the mood to eat many of your favourite food items. In this situation, you should consider having a banana with your breakfast in the morning. Alternatively, you can add mashed bananas in blender, add bit of ginger and a teaspoon of honey to make a smoothie. Bananas are a rich source of potassium, copper, folate, vitamins C and vitamin B6. These nutrients and vitamins help to increase your blood sugar levels and provide the energy necessary to boost your immunity.
3. Carrots, pumpkin and sweet potatoes
Whenever you fall sick with a bad cold, it is important to include carrots, sweet potatoes and a slice on pumpkin in your daily diet. These three vegetables are rich in beta- carotene. This is a plant pigment which your body uses to produce adequate qualities of vitamin A. Vitamin A generates signals in your body to manufacture sufficient amounts of white blood cells to eradicate the cold-causing viruses. Moreover, the vitamin accelerates the production of healthy mucus membrane in your throat to isolate and fight off the microbes. It will come as a surprise for you to know many nutritionists classify carrots, pumpkin and sweet potatoes as ‘’superfoods’’.
4. Garlic
Garlic is a well-known home-made remedy in many other parts of world for preventing coughs and colds. If you have already fallen ill with a severe cold, eating raw garlic daily hastens your recovery. As a result, you start to feel better within a short time. This is because garlic contains a distinct compound known as allicin. Chewing garlic in its raw form releases sulphur which gives the spice its distinctive taste and smell. Sulphur aids boosting the capability of the white blood cells in your body to encounter and destroy the cold-inducing viruses. The spice even boosts your immune system over time.
5. Green Chillies
Adding raw green chillies in all of your meals can offer you relief from a persistent cough and cold. Like carrots, green chillies are a rich source of the popular antioxidant beta-carotene. This plant pigment minimizes the density of bad mucus in your throat and extracts it from your body. It hastens the production of vitamin A in your body to fight bacteria and viruses causing the cold symptoms. Moreover, green chillies even contain iron, potassium, vitamin B and E. These minerals and vitamins assist in fighting and eradicating the various germs in your body. This helps to speed up your recovery.
6. Yoghurt
Consuming home-made yoghurt daily can boost your body’s immune system to fight common cough and colds. Yoghurt contains plenty of probiotics which are instrumental to reducing the intensity of your cold symptoms. Moreover, it is vital source of zinc which is a natural immunity-boosting mineral for your body. Above all, yoghurt is full of carbohydrates which gives your body the energy it needs to recovery from a severe cold. However, you should never eat yoghurt directly out of the refrigerator as it will further aggravate your cold symptoms. Ensure the yoghurt is at room temperature before eating it to preserve its beneficial bacteria.
7. Flax seeds
Flax seeds help to soothe your sore throat and any other bronchial tract uneasiness. You just need to boil two tablespoons of flax seeds in cup full of water. Wait for the liquid to become thick and then strain it. You add a bit of lemon juice and three teaspoons of honey to the solution before drinking it. The seeds have a high content of antioxidants, omega-3 fatty and alpha-linolenic acids. These substances have various anti-inflammatory properties which provide instant relief to your throat and respiratory tract. Moreover, flax seeds also contain phytoestrogen which strengthens your body’s immune system to fight the cold and cough viruses.
So, the next time you are down with a cold or a cough, keep the above home remedies in mind. Take them regularly and watch your cold and cough gradually disappear sans any sort of side-effects!
