Cold and cough are some of the common winter ailments. It is caused due to respiratory tract infection or due to allergies. These illnesses usually do not cause much harm to the body, however, it can keep you up all night and make you feel miserable — and sometimes irritated.
The good news is – you can treat cold and cough at home with some natural remedies. Cost-effective and simple, these remedies can alleviate your symptoms and allow you to get back to your routine activities soon.
Keep reading to see what you can try at your home.
• Lemon, Cinnamon, and Honey – Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice, honey, and a pinch of cinnamon together. This homemade syrup effectively cures cold and cough. Lemon and cinnamon help thin out and break up the mucus, while honey gives a soothing effect to the upper respiratory tract.
• Ginger-Tulsi Mixture: Crush a handful of Tulsi leaves and add 1 teaspoon ginger juice to it. Consume the mixture 2-3 times a day. Loaded with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, ginger and tulsi can provide you instant relief from cough and cold.
• Turmeric Milk: Turmeric is found in almost every Indian household. A strong antioxidant – this ingredient helps in treating many health problems. Add a pinch of turmeric with a glass of warm milk daily. It will help you recover from cold and cough quickly.
• Jaggery: Consume plain jaggery or with a glass of warm water. A rich source of iron – jaggery improves the haemoglobin level and increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. It will help you get rid of breathing-related issues that occur due to cough and cold.
• Lots of Vegetables: Include lots of vegetables in your healthy diet plan. Vegetables like spinach, cabbage, gourd, beetroot, carrot, red bell peppers, broccoli, etc are immune boosting food items. Loaded with fiber, nutrients, and vitamins – vegetables can help your body regenerate disease-fighting lymphatic cells naturally.
• Hot Soups: Mixed vegetable soup, black channa soup or chicken soup are helpful in chasing away the worst of cold and cough. It acts as a natural decongestant when hot.
That’s not all! Soups satiate your taste buds and help you meet your nutrient intake and fluid intake effectively.
All the above home remedies/ food items are safe to consume. You can also include them in your child’s diet plan or your pregnancy diet plan – to get rid of cold and cough.
Additionally:
• Do not include processed, spicy, and fried food items in your healthy diet plan.
• Drink lots of water (especially warm water)
• Take steam inhalation
• Gargle with salt water
• Get good sleep
• If you have a sore throat or cough that lasts longer than a week – see a doctor.
You should proactively boost your immune system if you want to avoid getting sick altogether. While over-the-counter medicines can lessen the symptoms, a healthy diet plan can help you fight off various kinds of illnesses quickly – without much pain and discomfort.
You can also take an appointment with a nutritionist if you need tips on your diet plan. A nutritionist will evaluate your health and offer you a personalized diet as per your needs.