The common cold is an acute viral infection that affects the upper respiratory tract. The common cold is more common in winter and is a viral infection which means it cannot be cured by antibiotics. It is virtually impossible to avoid the common cold virus, it is highly infectious and is spread through the air via coughing and sneezing and being in contact with objects contaminated with the virus. Catching a cold all depends on how strong your immune system is, if your immune system is strong, symptoms may not even appear or they may just be mild. There are over 200 different strains of the common cold virus that can cause symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, aching, sore throat, runny nose, watery eyes, a fever and headaches. These symptoms typically last between 3 to 7 days.

To protect against the common cold, keep your immune system strong. Avoid stress, get a good nights sleep, avoid cigarette smoke, include in your diet plenty of whole foods, fruit, vegetables and avoid dairy products, eggs, excessive meat, excessive sugar, saturated fats and alcohol. If you have a cold, firstly rest, drink plenty of water and take vitamin C and Echinacea supplements and suck zinc lozenges. If your nasal passages are congested, use a steam inhalation with added menthol, eucalyptus, pine or cinnamon, this will help to relieve them.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from a Cold.

Antioxidant complex

Echinacea

Elderberry extract

Garlic tablets

Multivitamins and minerals

Olive leaf extracts

Selenium

Vitamin C

Zinc lozenges