Although colds are a very common health complaint, especially during the cooler months of the year, they can really make one feel down-right rotten. Thankfully, there are many super immunity foods and nutritional and herbal supplements, which can help prevent and treat the common cold.

Beat the Common Cold With Super Immunity Foods

There are many people who claim that a big bowl of chicken soup is just the right tonic for those suffering from the common cold. However, recent research has identified that it is not actually the chicken itself which helps alleviate cold symptoms, but the vegetables that accompany the chicken in soup. In Super Immunity Foods, F. Goulart  highlights some key immunity-boosting foods used in the treatment of colds, to include the following:

• Onions – encourage release of toxins from the body
• Garlic – inhibits infectious agents, bacteria and viruses
• Carrots – improve immunity, high in antioxidants
• Parsnips – alkalise food helps protect body from infections/viruses
• Parsley – rich in phytochemicals to fight off colds
• Berries – help protect against colds, strengthen every immune system in the body
• Vegetable soup – vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, breathe-easy nutrients, thin mucus

Improve Cold Symptoms – Herbal, Nutritional Supplements

Further ways to help prevent and treat the common cold virus, include taking either herbal or nutritional supplements. In The Essential Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and Herbal Supplements, S. Brewer  identifies supplements to help relieve cold symptoms, as follows:

• Siberian ginseng – powerful immune stimulant
• Korean ginseng – helps reduce infections
• Rhodiola – increases resistance to stress, boosts immune system
• Astragalus – speeds recovery from respiratory infections
• Green tea – reduces frequency/severity of colds, helps protect against infection
• Echinacea – boosts general immunity, increases white blood cells
• Elderberry extracts – anti-viral compounds, reduce severity/duration of colds/flu
• Olive leaf extracts – powerful anti-viral
• Menthol, eucalyptus, cinnamon pine oil – ease nasal congestion

In addition to the above super immunity foods, herbal and nutritional supplements, it is also well worth taking a daily multivitamin and herbal supplement to help reduce the likelihood of suffering from common colds by boosting the immune system. Vitamin C, in particular, is essential to prevent infections and viruses, while vitamin D helps protect the body from respiratory tract infections.

As highlighted above, the common cold may be treated by super immunity foods, such as onions, parsley, garlic, carrots, berries and vegetable soup, while herbal cold-busters include echinacea, ginseng, rhodiola and olive leaf extracts. Taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement is also worthwhile to help prevent catching colds and flu viruses.