• Question: Are there any foods that are really good at helping cure the common cold.

    Asked by anon-176406 to Ali, Jenny, Mark, Paul, Simran, Stephen on 13 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Mark Kirkwood

      Mark Kirkwood answered on 13 Jun 2018:

      Hi Greg Paul!

      Great question, because there are a lot of sites out there that will tell you all sorts of nonsense about what to eat to protect yourself from a cold.

      Weak evidence suggests that any hot drink will release vapours that loosen up the airways in your nose a bit and make it easier to breathe.

      But pretty much everything else that normally gets suggested is a no. Vitamin C, cough medicine, echinacea (a plant based treatment) any herbal remedies have little or no evidence to recommend using them.

      Treating The Common Cold

      So, if you get a cold, maybe use a decongestant, and have a hot drink, but pretty much just take it easy and get some bed rest and sleep!

    • Photo: Ali Hill

      Ali Hill answered on 13 Jun 2018:

      Yep – fully agree Mark – there’s lots of “nutribabble” out there (i.e. utter RUBBISH that people say about nutrition!). Vitamin C (which is in fruit and veg) can reduce how long you have a cold for, but it won’t stop you getting one.

      As for will we find something new in the future that can cure it? Who knows?! That’s why we need people like you to become scientists! 🙂

    • Photo: Simran Chopra

      Simran Chopra answered on 18 Jun 2018:

      Hey Greg

      The common cold is the most common to be treated at home. I come from India where home remedies from your nan rule the roost and the oldies will have an answer to any illness.

      What I like to do is treat illnesses with food, food can be used as medicine to cure the body and fight the infection.

      Lots of vitamin C from fruits like lemon, oranges etc, turmeric, ginger, honey and smelling eucalyptus oil to decongest are my staples when I feel under the weather.

      😀
      Simran

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