With flu season just getting started, you may have already gotten the virus or may be looking for ways to prevent it. Although there are many different strains of the flu virus, they all tend to cause similar symptoms which can include fever, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, headaches, coughs and sore throats. There are some natural remedies that can help treat the symptoms of the flu and reduce your risk of developing complications from this illness.
Drink lots of fluids
You should drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. This can be in the form of water, juice, or soup. You also want to avoid alcohol and caffeine as they dehydrate you further.
If you're not feeling well enough to eat solid foods then there are some things that you can put in your body that will help fight off the flu virus without much effort on your part. For example, hot tea with lemon and honey is a great way to get fluids into your system while also boosting your immune system at the same time.1
Another option would be fruit juices such as orange juice or grapefruit juice because both types contain vitamin C which offers protection against the flu virus.2
Get plenty of rest
Rest is one of the most important things you can do when you’re sick. Resting helps your body fight off the virus, and it also allows you to feel better faster. You may need to adjust your schedule or your daily routine, but rest is essential for healing.
Also, make sure that you are getting enough sleep at night. A good way to tell if someone has gotten enough sleep is by looking at their eyes: when people aren’t getting enough rest, they often have dark circles under their eyes and look tired all day long (this isn’t just because they’re sick—it could be a sign of other problems too).
The amount of sleep every person needs varies based on things like age and health conditions; however, most adults need 7-9 hours per night in order to get optimal benefits from slumber sessions without feeling groggy during the day!
Eat healthy, immune-boosting food
Eat foods rich in vitamins C, D and E. Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, bell peppers and broccoli. Vitamin D can be found in fortified dairy products such as milk, eggs or salmon. Nuts are also full of vitamin E.
Use natural remedies and supplements
You can also use natural remedies and supplements to help you fight off the flu.
Natural remedies include:
Herbal remedies such as echinacea, garlic, vitamin C and zinc. These may not be as effective at getting rid of your cold as antiviral drugs, but they do work well for some people. If you’re going to give them a try, make sure to consult your doctor first so they can tell you which ones might be best for you.
Echinacea is a plant that has been shown in studies to prevent colds and flu by boosting the immune system. It’s also used topically on the skin when there are signs of infection (like redness or pain) around an area where there has been trauma (such as a cut or scrape).
Garlic may also help prevent colds because it contains powerful antioxidants that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules produced during normal metabolism).
Take care when coughing or sneezing
Take care when coughing or sneezing
When you have a cold, you’re likely to have a runny nose and a slight cough. However, it can be easy to forget that when you’re feeling under the weather, your body is fighting off an infection. This means that there are potentially contaminants in your nasal mucus (the fluid inside your nose) which could make people around you ill if they come into contact with them. It’s important to remember that even if you think your symptoms are mild enough not to worry about passing on a virus by coughing or sneezing, there may be people who are more susceptible than others who may catch something from spending time near you.
Avoid touching your face
This is one of the easiest ways for germs from someone else's hands (and fingers) to enter yours and cause problems such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), abscesses on eyelids or swelling around the eyes due to hay fever/allergies being aggravated by these microorganisms entering through open pores on our faces during sleep when we're less alert at night compared with daytime hours when we need more rest before getting back out into traffic again after work.* Wear disposable gloves while cooking meals if possible; otherwise keep hands clean while preparing food so no one gets sick eating their meal.* Wear face masks when going out into public places like schools where lots of children congregate together during breaks between classes; wearing face masks can help prevent transmission between kids' hands which might touch each other's noses after playing outside together all day long under sunny skies without clouds overhead making shade available at all times even though our bodies don't feel hot from walking barefoot since blood flow increases due sweating more than normal levels because heat exhaustion often occurs without any warning signs except nausea symptoms such as dizziness spells followed by numbness
Don't smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke
The flu can be contagious, and if you're smoking (or living with someone who smokes), that means your chances of getting sick are even higher. Not only is secondhand smoke harmful to your health, but it also makes it easier for the flu virus to spread. The best way to prevent yourself from getting sick is by staying away from secondhand smoke.
If you've already contracted the flu, then don't worry—there's still plenty you can do on your own! We'll teach you how in this section:
Manage your stress
Stress is a common factor in many people's lives, but it can also make you more susceptible to the flu. If you're under a lot of stress, your immune system may not be able to fight off an illness like the flu as well as it could if you were less stressed out.
As if that weren't bad enough, stress actually makes the symptoms of the flu worse too—and it can even cause them to last longer than they normally would. Stress may also mean that you get sick again sooner after recovering from your first bout with illness.
In order to prevent this situation from happening or at least mitigate its effects on your body and mind, try doing something relaxing every day (like yoga).
While there is no way to completely avoid getting the flu, these tips can help you feel better faster. Stay hydrated and rest as much as possible! Drink plenty of water throughout the day and try to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night if possible. Eating a balanced diet full of foods rich in vitamins (such as C) and minerals will also boost your immune system so that it can fight off any invaders trying enter your body through mucous membranes or cuts/scrapes - which is why it's important not only take care when coughing or sneezing but also wash hands thoroughly after touching something potentially infected with germs too!