What is a busy professional to do when they feel a cold coming on?

I woke up Friday with a scratchy, tickley, irritated feeling in the back of my throat. That tell tale sign that a cold is sneaking up on you.  A few times during the day I got that swimmy feeling in my head, I needed to sit down and regroup. I was CERTAIN I was catching whatever it is that’s been going around.  and I developed a runny nose as the day progressed…

Here is what I did.

Feed the body what it needs.
Friday night, (I should have started Friday at noon.) I mixed up a batch of “vitamin water” mix.  I will share the recipe at the end of this post. I began feeding my body what it needs to boost my immune system and kick this stuff to the curb.

Don’t add stress.
I followed the instructions I was given for the drink mix (see below) and I rested on Saturday. I held off on a 10 mile training walk to prevent that stress from combining with the stress of fighting off a cold.

My grandmother always said that the sun is good for a cold. (Research says so too, here, here, and here.)  So when my husband wanted to go out on the boat I agreed to go. I didn’t do any of the work to prepare and I simply sat in the sun and enjoyed the beauty around me. I watch as they skied and fished.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
It is easy to forget to hydrate while sitting miserably with a swimmy head, stuffy nose, etc. However, hydration is what helps wash things out of our bodies that we don’t want there. When we become dehydrated it can cause a myriad of issues, and if you are feeling thirsty – you are already in the beginning stages of dehydration.

I fight dehydration by consuming room temperature water, warm performance hydration beverage, and hot herbal teas, as well as the hot vitamin water I mentioned above.

REST.
The body is already working overtime to fight the bug. Your body is creating white blood cells to fight off the infection and heal your body. (That is how it is designed to work.) When we allow the body to rest it can use that extra energy to fight off the invaders that are causing your symptoms.

I opted to stay home when my husband went out to visit with friends Friday and Saturday night. I relaxed at home, watched a movie, and SLEPT both nights to allow my body to use that energy fighting off the cold.

Gargle with hot/warm salt water
This is such an easy way to kill off any germs in your throat, as well as using a Neti-pot or a Sinu-rinse.  Super easy and VERY effective.

These are the exact tools I employ when I begin to feel a cold coming on. They have worked time and again for us.

Please note, I am NOT saying that any of these supplements cured my cold, I AM saying this is the protocol I followed, personally, and have for years to keep a cold from lasting more than a day or so.

Recipe
The amounts and supplements I mention here are all a brand I specifically trust for purity, potency, and safety.

Get Well Tea
4 Defend & Resist                   6 Alfalfa
6 Chewable C                         2 Zinc
3 Sustained Release Vita-C    4 Garlic
6 Nutriferon                             4 Herb lax
3 Tbsp Performance Mix         4 Stomach Soothing Complex

Add all to a grinder/blender cup and grind to a powder. Then add 1 rounded tsp. to 1 cup of hot water & a little honey to taste. Stir to dissolve.

Drink another within one 1/2 hour, and then one every hour for as long as it takes to begin feeling better.

This is how I supported my immune system and body. I ALSO sucked on a zinc and about 5 chewable C’s on Saturday morning to help my sore throat go away, and added some Vitalized Immunity in hot water a couple of times as well.