10-Step
Plan For Getting Over A Cold... Fast!
Despite all your best preventative efforts, you've come down with a cold. Never fear... just follow this 10-step plan and you'll feel better in no time!*
1. Slow
down immediately. Don't do anything that's not absolutely necessary
for survival. I know the dishes need to get done, but they're not necessary
for survival when you have the flu! Delegate everything and anything
to someone else. You need all your energy to get well. Don't try to
be Superwoman right now!
2. Get
to bed as early as possible tonight (and every night until
you feel 100%). Bundle up. Bring a hot water bottle to bed with you,
if possible. Get a lot of sleep tonight, at least 2 hours more than
you think you need.
3. Take a sick day (or days!) from work. You won't
be much help at work if you're sick. Plus, you will just pass your germs
around the office (no one likes a Germ Spreader!).
4. Avoid workouts (or lower your intensity) for the first few
days. Your body needs all of its energy to fight your cold.
Once you feel better, ease back into your routine gently. Transition
into light workouts like gentle stretching, yoga, or light walking.
Save the heavy weight lifting or cardio classes for later. If your cold
reaches your lungs or chest area, you should avoid workouts until you
recover.
5. Drink a lot of fluids. Water and herbal tea are
your best options. You can have a glass of tea or orange juice for Vitamin
C... but try to stay away from drinking fruit juices and sugary drinks
(these will just decrease the effectiveness of your immune system).
6. Take Vitamin C, Zinc and Echinacea. Take these at
the beginning of your cold, as they will shorten the duration. Suck
on 1/4 of a zinc lozenge every 30 minutes (don't chew the tablets or
swallow them directly - they won't be as effective). Take 500-2,000
mg of Vitamin C every 1-2 hours. Umcka ColdCare and Kold Kare also work
well to decrease the duration of your cold.
7. Drink Throat Coat Tea (from Traditional Medicinals)
if you have a sore throat. Sit in the bathroom while a hot shower
runs if your nose is stuffed up. The steam from the shower
will gently open your sinuses and help you breathe better.
8. Eat chicken noodle soup. Homemade soup is much more
effective than soup-in-a-can. Chicken contains a natural amino acid
called cysteine which thins mucous in the lungs, making it easy to expel.
Make your soup spicy. Using spices like cayenne pepper will help break
up mucous in your body.
9. Avoid fruit juices, sugary foods, and all dairy foods. Consuming
sugary foods (even orange juice!) weakens your immune system. Consuming
dairy foods will produce more mucous in your body, making you even more
congested.
10. I took NutriBiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) with
me to India this summer and used it almost every day. Here in the States,
I take GSE the minute I start feeling sick. It gets rid of bad bacteria
in the body. It's also good for preventing intestinal trouble, yeast
infection, skin conditions. It's a wonderful item to have in your medicine
cabinet.
Please note:
you MUST follow the instructions when taking GSE. GSE is VERY strong,
and must be taken with caution. A normal dose is 10-15 drops in a glass
of water (don't take it straight - it will burn your mouth!). It tastes
bitter, so you may want to have a small glass of juice ready as a 'chaser.'
If you are considering using GSE, read this first: NutriBiotic
website.
* As always, check with your doctor before taking any new medicines or supplements.
