Common cold remedy

Fighting the common cold naturally

Next time you get a cold, don’t run to get a prescription for antibiotics.  Antibiotics for colds do more harm than good. Firstly, colds, or upper respiratory infections, are caused by viruses so antibiotics (which kill bacteria) will not help. Secondly, the antibiotic will kill the beneficial microbes in your gut (your microbiome) that your immune system needs to function properly.  

Beneficial microbes, like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, secrete molecules that help our immune system respond to foreign invaders like viruses.  Antibiotics will kill these good guys. Stay away from antibiotics unless you have a severe bacterial infection.

To kill viruses, our bodies need to produce two virus-fighting cells:  

·   B cells: to secrete antibodies to neutralize the virus.

·   Natural Killer (NK) cells: to destroy virus-infected cells so they can be cleared out of our body.  

Therefore, when we have a virus, we need to support our immune system to do what God designed it to function.  Our immune system will get rid of the virus, not an antibiotic.

Keep one thing in mind.  For our immune system to work well, we need to have an adequate vitamin D level, generally between 40 and 100 ng/ml.  This means only taking vitamin D when you feel sick will not work. You need to take vitamin D every day so that your body gets the amount of vitamin D it needs to function.  For most people the best dose is between 1000 and 4000 IU per day get their vitamin D to the proper level. Some people need prescription strength vitamin D. Ask your healthcare professional for a vitamin D test and discuss the optimal level for you.

Here are my six simple steps to fight a cold:

1. Take high-quality probiotics and eat fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir, and kimchi.

2.  Take zinc and vitamin C.

3.  Drink smoothies full of colorful fruits like berries.

4. Eat sprouts, garlic, onions, steamed vegetables, and bone broth.

5. Avoid eating hyperinflammatory ultra processed foods. 

6.  Drink antioxidant anti-inflammatory teas like ginger, turmeric, lemon, echinacea, and elderberry.

With a strong immune system, a cold will be mild and will only last a few days. Do not forget to hand your hands and keep your home clean to reduce transmission to others.