I got sick over Christmas and Glen got sick a couple days later. Everyone around the building has been sick and it seems like everyone we talk to had, has it, or it's going around their house. Here are a few ways to feel better sooner.

Sometimes you have something more than just a cold, but one way to clear your head is to just take a hot, hot shower or stand in the bathroom when someone is taking one. The steam will loosen the crap in your head and get things moving. You can also continue this trend by placing a warm washcloth over your eyes for a few minutes after you get out of the shower and sleeping with a vaporizer next to your bed. The vaporizer isn't the quietest thing in the world, but it does help. One thing I was also told was if your nose is running, don't sniff. Keep blowing your nose.

After I got sick, as much as it killed me, I didn't drink coffee. I had green tea with honey and lemon. Turns out, tea has antibacterial and antiviral properties and it kind of acts like shower and vaporizer by loosening the stuffiness. You should drink liquid anyway, so that helps and the warm also helps to soothe sore throats. The lemon has vitamin C in it, which boosts your immune system and the honey is just a natural sweetener to make it taste a little better because refined sugar can actually slow down your immune system.

Drink lots and lots and lots of water. Keeping up your liquids helps flush all the yucky toxins out of your body. I was told to try and stay away from dairy. Milk makes mucus and that's what you're trying to get rid of, so if you do have coffee, try and stay away from the creamer. It can irritate your nose and your throat, so keep drinking fluids. Also stay away from caffeine. Caffeine leeches water from your body and can dehydrate you so drink water, juice or tea.

Here's my favorite: Eat and sleep. When I was sick last week, I slept and slept and slept and slept like I hadn't slept in a year. The doctor also told me that when I sleep, sleep with my head propped up. Your nose drains that way and it's easier to breathe. I also made sure I kept eating. I just ate better than I normally would and chicken noodle soup does help. The steam again helps to break up the junk in your head and the salt in the broth helps you hang on to those much needed fluids. I ate lots of fruits and vegetables and lean meats. Eating is one thing, but eating the right things is better.

Once you get to feeling a little bit better, doc says to get moving. Don't hit the gym and run 10 miles, but a small amount of exercise improves you immune system.

 

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