Common cold How helpful are chicken soup and natural home remedies?

Natural home remedies: Help chicken soup and co against colds?
Although the temperatures for the starting winter are still relatively moderate, but the wet and cold weather has long been responsible for an increase in colds. To prevent cough, runny nose and co., It helps to strengthen the immune system. If it still catches you, home remedies can usually relieve the symptoms.

Natural home remedies for colds
Hot milk with honey, chicken soup, increased intake of vitamin C by tangerines and oranges: During the cold season, there are numerous tips on how to protect yourself from colds, or which natural remedies are best for combating an infection. Not all recommendations are scientifically validated. But that does not mean home remedies do not work for colds.

When it comes to frequent infections in the cold season, many people rely on a strong chicken soup. Other home remedies help against colds. (Image: Thomas Francois / fotolia.com)

Strengthen the immune system
Especially in the winter months, it is important to strengthen the immune system to protect against infections. A healthy and balanced diet plays a very special role here.

Although some people also resort to dietary supplements, but according to health experts, it is much more reasonable to strengthen the immune system with food. Particularly important for this is vitamin C. Among others, paprika are considered ideal vitamin C donors.

But many other fruits and vegetables also contain much of the body's important vitamin. It is recommended to take three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit or juices and smoothies made daily.

Vitamin C intake in winter
Broccoli also strengthens our immune system. Already around 100 grams of the vegetables cover the daily requirement of an adult for vitamin C in the amount of 100 milligrams.

Kale, Brussels sprouts and lamb's lettuce are also good for vitamin C intake in winter.

Drink a lot
But even with a healthy and balanced diet with lots of vitamins, it can happen that you catch an infection. Then there is a lot, which really helps with colds.

Above all, it is important to drink a lot. Through an increased fluid intake, the stubborn mucus dissolves better and the secretions in the nose are diluted.

In addition, the body gets back through it more fluid that is lost through excessive sweating by the disease.

It is recommended to warm water or herbal teas, such as thyme or sage tea. Some also rely on warm beer and onion honey juice. According to some experts, however, the former is not recommended, because the alcohol is additionally claimed the weakened immune system.

Ginger and zinc help against colds
Many colds also swear by ginger tea. The miracle ginger has an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, the sharpness of this natural remedy irritates the mucous membranes and promotes blood circulation.

Zink is also known as a helper against colds. The trace element protects the mucous membranes and makes the penetration of viruses difficult.

A strong chicken soup and a lot of rest
However, a strong chicken soup and bed rest are still the best remedy for colds for many people.

The nutritionist Prof. Dr. med. According to a report on "Spektrum.de", Axel Lorentz from the University of Hohenheim stated: "There are hardly any studies on whether chicken soup or hot milk with honey can really help with a cold. These foods are also too diverse to capture all their potential effects in a study. "

However, there is evidence that chicken soup inhibits the activity of a group of immune cells, the neutrophilic granulocytes, and thus has anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, home remedies such as soup or milk with honey are hot. "Heat improves the blood circulation, immune cells get better everywhere, the mucus dissolves, the symptoms disappear," says Lorentz.

Also in the fresh air
In addition to the various dietary tips, experts also recommend that you go for a cold every now and then - but not if you have a fever. It is also advisable to put a bowl of water on the heater and air several times a day. To quickly get rid of a cold, you should also give the body a lot of rest and relinquish stress.

Last but not least, cooking steam inhalations can also help the face. These have an expectorant, secretory and anti-inflammatory. Especially with an acute sinusitis and respiratory infections such as runny nose, cough and bronchitis, they are recommended. (Ad)