Catching a cold is common in winter, and the cough that comes with it can be very uncomfortable. A piece of chocolate might help relieve the symptoms. Taking medicine with chocolate not only makes it easier to swallow but also enhances its cough-suppressing effect, as chocolate itself is a good remedy. Dr. Dennis from Haug City, California, says: "Theobromine in chocolate is very effective for cough suppression." Theobromine can inhibit the activity of the vagus nerve, which is crucial for chronic cough. A report by the American Society for Experimental Biology published in The Wall Street Journal states that all chocolate contains theobromine, with the highest concentration in dark chocolate. Dr. Dennis says: "Although the exact dosage cannot be determined, for dark chocolate, an adult would need to eat 2 ounces (about 57 grams) and a child 1 ounce (about 28 grams) for it to be effective."
Many doctors say that sleep is the "best cold medicine." If you catch a cold, you must ensure 8 hours of sleep every day. When you have a cold, resting well, reducing consumption, and maintaining your energy are essential to enhance your body's resistance for a speedy recovery. Adequate sleep helps stabilize the function of neuroendocrine organs like the hypothalamus, which in turn helps improve the body's immune function.
Additionally, drink plenty of water. Sufficient hydration can dilute toxins in the blood and accelerate the excretion of metabolic waste, thereby alleviating cold symptoms and shortening the duration of the illness. Experts suggest maintaining your fluid intake when you have a cold, but avoid drinking large amounts at once. Drink intermittently; have a glass at a time, no more than 300 milliliters, and wait a while before drinking again. Drinking continuously can put too much strain on your kidneys. Your daily water intake should be around 2000 milliliters, and part of it should ideally be an electrolyte beverage.
Supplementing with Vitamin C is also a good method. Whether taking Vitamin C supplements or eating fruits rich in Vitamin C, such as jujubes, oranges, kiwis, tangerines, and grapefruits, can help alleviate cold symptoms. Generally, sour fruits contain a good amount of Vitamin C. Drinking orange juice not only replenishes Vitamin C but also helps relieve discomfort in the mouth.
The dry air in winter can irritate the respiratory tract, especially in rooms with heating. Placing a humidifier by your bed or sofa can help you breathe more easily. Research also shows that adding white vinegar to a humidifier can not only increase air humidity but also has a certain preventive effect against colds. It's worth a try.
You can also eat liquid foods. The diet of a person with a cold and fever should be light, easy to digest, and rich in vitamins. It's generally best to focus on liquid or semi-liquid foods, such as rice soup, congee, noodles, and lotus root starch. Regarding the saying that chicken soup colds colds, British scholars have found this to be true because certain components in chicken soup can reduce coughing, and the steam from hot soup and porridge also helps relieve nasal congestion.
Many people don't know that you should drink less milk during a cold. It's not advisable to drink milk when you have a cold, as it can increase mucus production in the respiratory tract, worsening the illness and slowing down recovery. People with a cold can drink yogurt, which aids digestion, shortens the time food stays in the stomach, can also reduce mucus caused by "internal heat" from food, lowers the dampness-cold in the body caused by fluid retention, and helps prevent phlegm-induced wheezing.
To avoid the flu, experts also offer the following advice: If the person sitting next to you on a bus is coughing or sneezing, it's best to turn your head away. If you're on a bus or subway, try to move to a different seat. According to 2014 data from MIT, bacteria-containing droplets can travel as far as 3.5 meters. A single sneeze from a cold patient can produce 100,000 bacteria-laden droplets, and as few as 30 droplets gathered together can infect someone else. Moreover, viruses are extremely resilient and can survive for about two days on surfaces like remote controls, doorknobs, and handrails.
Additionally, if you are overweight, it's best to get a flu shot. Wendy Barclay, an expert in influenza research, says: "Overweight people are more susceptible to colds and their complications than others, so it's recommended that these people get a flu prevention shot at the hospital during the winter."