Does any one know any good concoctions that will keep away the common cold, as I seem to spend 2 out of 3 weeks sniffling coughing sneezing, and generally feeling cr*p.

I eat a decent amount of veg, not so much friut though, I drink about 3 litres or more of fluid a day, keep fairly fit , dont drink dont smoke but still manage to catch them any ideas any one.

Willing to try almost anything. (ish)

I know how you feel buddy.

Is it generally all year round or just at winter?

plenty of vitimin c pure orange juice m8:clap:

Garlic and chilli!!
If I frequently (once or twice a week) eat curry, chilli or anything with garlic and/chilli in I get less colds. If I don't, I get colds :(

apparently echinacea is good for keeping colds at bay.
what it is or where it comes from is a mystery to me!?

I too eat lots of spicy stuff, and if i do succumb to a case of the sniffles, i take paracetamol 6-hourly, and decongestants - seems to keep it under control and its gone in no time..;)

Wash your hands constently.

Originally posted by poppins
Wash your hands constently.

Not being rude - but what would this do?? Thought Cold's were airborne things?

Its virtually impossible to avoid a cold, all of above would help but if its gonna get ya its gonna get ya:P

Originally posted by jonsastar
Does any one know any good concoctions that will keep away the common cold, as I seem to spend 2 out of 3 weeks sniffling coughing sneezing, and generally feeling cr*p.

I eat a decent amount of veg, not so much friut though, I drink about 3 litres or more of fluid a day, keep fairly fit , dont drink dont smoke but still manage to catch them any ideas any one.

Willing to try almost anything. (ish) Fresh orange and early nights (*sniff* *achoo* *cough* have you noticed the time on some of my posts? :hihi: ) Wrap up warm and don't sit about with wet hair. Some of the old wives' tales actually have some substance.

PS traditionally cooked veg (boiled to tasteless) will have lost most of it's vitamin content ;)

As someone who rarely gets sick I've had this cold/virus 3 times since November, completely knocking me for 6.. Am currently off work with it again (having had to return home late last night from a training course :( )

Propolis- a bee product is meant to be a good immune system supporter. Is a bit expensive but can get it from any health shop as recommended by Dr Gillian Mckeith. Better than echinacea apparently- this only works in short bursts and is sketchy evidence about it's usefulness.

Echinacea is good but only if you buy good quality, same goes with most things I guess! I would not buy it or anything from Holland and Barratt, get Bio-force or check out Specialist Herbal Supplies, Very good quality products.


http://www.specialist-herbal.com/

I've heard a good dose of sorbitol helps. You'll find it in sugar free polos.

Originally posted by mat1978
Not being rude - but what would this do?? Thought Cold's were airborne things?

Its virtually impossible to avoid a cold, all of above would help but if its gonna get ya its gonna get ya:P

Sorry , you'r right, i was thinking about a virus, anyhow luv, wash your hands too just for the heck of it !

Originally posted by jonsastar
dont drink dont smoke

You don't drink, don't smoke - what do you do?

Sorry - was listening to Adam & the Ants on the way to work!!

Zinc lozenges help once you feel a cold coming on, or have a scratchy throat. It lessens the severity of a cold. (for me anyway)

Hand washing is probably the best preventive. I always carry some of that anti-bacterial hand gel around...and use it.

It seems to help.

:) Sierra

Originally posted by missnorks
as recommended by Dr Gillian Mckeith.

Please don't get us started on this woman! Please refrain from the incorrect use of Dr. too.

I think washing your hands is supposed to help because if someone with a cold blows their nose then touches, say, a door handle, then you come along and touch the handle, if you touch your nose or mouth you can catch the germs. Anyone know if this is true?

So don't touch your nose/mouth if you haven't washed your hands!

Fink I am a bit fick, but incorrect use of Dr. in what way? Longshanks yes that is very true. Handwashing is the best way to keep the bugs at bay! We are all unwittingly responsible for the spread of all sorts of germs through touching various parts of our anatomy and subsequently not washing our hands. You should also refrain from eating your lunch at your workstation or desk and regularly clean keyboards- the worst offenders when it comes to the spread of disease/viruses. :gag:

give up mucus forming foods like dairy

Originally posted by IanMitchell
I know how you feel buddy.

Is it generally all year round or just at winter?

Generally all year round, but not so bad in the summer, still get them then as well though, at first I thought it was beer and fags but since I stopped them and still get the colds I guess that is not the case.

Some times they just seem to fester and go no where, which is a complete pain as you tend to have them longer.

I think I will give enichacea a go, and eat more curry.

Originally posted by jonsastar


I think I will give enichacea a go, and eat more curry.

good thinking mate i know loads of people on this and it works wonders

Originally posted by f_g
give up mucus forming foods like dairy

I did this a long time ago but got cravings for milk and cheese, so I changed from normal milk to UHT or sterilised as I tend to have a year long cold when I use normal milk, guess I must have a week immune system.

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
good thinking mate i know loads of people on this and it works wonders

do you use it before or during the cold?

I'm sulking. I've now got the germs.

I'm sat in the house with my fleecy hat on, but I wouldn't be able to type if I wore the gloves too, so I'll just have to suffer the cold fingers.

Herrrummmmppphhhh :mad: :(

The hand washing thing is true, those with colds generally have the cold germs on their hands and will transfer them to everything they touch.
This is why people with colds shouldn't prepare food, wash up etc etc. It has been tested that if a person doesn't touch any of the same items and can contain sneezes and coughs in tissues etc, the chance of catching a cold is greatly reduced. As discussed on a previous thread about buses and colds.
Echinacea is good as well as bee propolis. But they work better before the cold. To treat a current cold avoiding dairy products and orange juice will help.
Yes - shock horror, avoid citrus fruits when ill, they actually increase mucus. Drink apple juice and black coffee instead to get equal vit c and the added benefit in coffee is the heat helps break mucus down.