Duck cold

We come across more raw noses and sneezes in winter. Yet cold weather does not cause colds. Cold viruses thrive better in colder temperatures, when there is less humidity in the weather.

Adults can have two to four colds per year, whereas preschoolers can have it eight to ten times a year. While colds are normal, they can weaken your immune system to the point that other, more serious, germs can take hold in your body.

The cold vs  The flu

• The common cold and the flu are both respiratory infections.
• Generally a cold comes on gradually, and the flu strikes suddenly — you can feel fine in the morning and lousy by afternoon.
• The classic cold symptoms — congestion, sore throat, and sneezing — are usually less severe than those of the flu, which often include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, and headaches.
• The amount of time needed to recover is different too. In general, a cold lasts about a week, but symptoms may trouble you for only three or four days if your immune system is in good shape. You can be sick with the flu for up to 10 days, and fatigue can persist for two to three weeks afterward. A cold rarely produces serious complications, but the flu can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia.

Keeping colds at bay

• Eat more oranges, apples and lick more of tomato sauce this winter as these foods have flavonoids—anti- inflammatory substances to boost your immune system, besides vitamin C.
• Enjoy bananas, fish and chicken, as they help maintain the health of organs that make infection-fighting white blood cells.
• Wash your hands and your little ones hands often and wash them twice.
• Change toothbrushes in your family once a month.
• Use your knuckle to rub your eyes and train your kids to do so too. It’s less likely to be contaminated with viruses than your fingertip. This is particularly important given that the eye provides a perfect entry point for germs, and the average person rubs his eyes or nose or scratches his face 20-50 times a day, notes Jordan Rubin, Ph.D., author of the book The Maker’s Diet.

Still, if the cold catches you or your little one trust the goodness of chicken or vegetable soup. Cold is dehydrating and warm broths help replenish the loss of fluid. Rest often. Suck on zinc lozenges as they help in alleviating symptoms of cold.

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