8 Foods To Treat Common Cold

Common cold is caused by a virus and it affects the upper respiratory system. Common symptoms of cold are runny nose, sneezing, clogged nose and headache.

Sometimes common cold is accompanied by fever and body ache. A person may catch cold by exposure to cold winds or by coming in direct contact with another person suffering from it.

Common cold does not hamper your day today activities, but it can cause a lot of discomfort and uneasiness. Apart from taking over the counter medicines to get relief from the ailment, you can include certain foods to treat common cold in your daily diet.

Foods To Treat Common Cold

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants. Vitamin C boosts immunity and energy and helps you to fight the virus. Eat two to three helpings of citrus fruits like orange, grapefruit, strawberries, sweet lime and pineapple to treat common cold. You can drink one glass of mixed fruit juice at room temperature with one tea spoon ginger juice to increase its medicinal value.

Soups

Hot vegetable or chicken soup stimulates blood circulation. It alleviates body ache and nasal congestion. Soup also provides additional benefit of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. To treat common cold drink clear soups with mixed vegetables added to it or drink chicken broth so that it is easily digested.

Fluids

Cold and runny nose causes dehydration, so it is necessary to drink plenty of fluids in form of water, juice and soup. Avoid drinking cold water as it can aggravate the allergy. Drink water at room temperature or slightly hot, add a few drops of lemon juice and honey to make it more effective.

Ginger Tea

Ginger tea helps to expel mucous from nasal passage and it provides relief from body ache as it is anti spasmodic. It also helps to bring down fever through sweating.

To make ginger tea; take 1 tea spoon grated ginger, ½ inch cinnamon stick, 5 black peppercorns and one big cardamom. Boil them in 1- 1/2 cups of water for 3-5 minutes. Strain and add ½ tea spoon honey. Drink it twice a day.

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Garlic

Garlic contains Allicin which acts as a decongestant. It helps to treat common cold and controls sneezing. Add 3-5 garlic pods in your meals to treat common cold.

Apple

Eat one apple along with peel to get relief from common cold. Apple is energy booster, it contains antioxidants and vitamins and minerals to help you fight infections.

Jaggery

Jaggery is a natural blood purifier. It helps to remove toxins from the body and prevents the attack of virus. Eat 2 tea spoons jaggery with ¼ tea spoon dry ginger powder and ¼ tea spoon of black pepper powder to treat common cold.

Onion

Onion contains sulphur, potassium and sodium. It builds your resistance power and it strengthens the immune system. Onion is an extremely beneficial food to treat common cold and it cures runny nose. Eat one raw onion with your meals everyday to fight common cold.