Can you fight the common cold with a natural remedy?

Written by Kevin Sheldon


Colds appear superficially similar torepparttar 'flu, but are generally less severe. Common inrepparttar 114121 colder seasons, respiratory passage inflammation, irritation ofrepparttar 114122 nose and throat, runny eyes, and of course fevers, chills and muscle aches are typical symptoms ofrepparttar 114123 common cold. In extreme cases, a bad cold may even cause sinusitis or congestion ofrepparttar 114124 chest, which can be particularly distressing forrepparttar 114125 very young and very old. The differences between a cold and flu are fairly easy to spot - flu usually causes a headache, fever, heavy fatigue and general aches - these are rare in true colds. Onrepparttar 114126 other hand, a cold usually involves a runny nose and a sore throat - both rare in flu. Whatever you do,repparttar 114127 symptoms will last between 7 and 14 days (including an incubation period of between 1 and 3 days). Men tend to say they haverepparttar 114128 flu, rather than a 'cold', because it sounds so much more serious! Common colds, however, are far more 'common' if you will excuserepparttar 114129 pun.

The common cold is caused by a fast mutating virus, which tends to strike when one's immune system is depressed. Extreme coldness, tiredness, stress brought on by overwork, or overindulgence - all of these can 'bring on' a cold. The symptoms ofrepparttar 114130 common cold are actually your body attempting to killrepparttar 114131 virus and re-establish normal conditions - a raised body temperature killsrepparttar 114132 virus eventually. Unfortunately,repparttar 114133 fast mutation characteristics ofrepparttar 114134 common cold make it impossible to produce a vaccine, leaving only natural remedies inrepparttar 114135 arsenal of anti-cold techniques.

Atrepparttar 114136 first signs of a cold (sore throat, runny nose) go to bed - don't wait forrepparttar 114137 virus to 'kick in'. Remember thatrepparttar 114138 first line of attack againstrepparttar 114139 cold virus will be plenty of fluids, and especially vitamin C drinks, such as hot lemon. In fact, you can take large amounts of vitamin C in many forms - tablets, drinks etc. Garlic will also help - both of these are good germ fighters. Other vitamins that will help include vitamin A, B6, vitamin E, and vitamin F. It is also reported that a little extra zinc can help shortenrepparttar 114140 duration of colds.

Benefits of Green Tea

Written by Robert Rogers


Tea and Cancer Prevention Tea drinking is an ancient tradition dating back 5,000 years in China and India. Long regarded in those cultures as an aid to good health, researchers now are studying tea for possible use inrepparttar prevention and treatment of a variety of cancers. Investigators are especially interested inrepparttar 114120 antioxidants-called catechins-found in tea.

1. What are antioxidants?

The human body constantly produces unstable molecules called oxidants, also commonly referred to as free radicals. To become stable, oxidants steal electrons from other molecules and, inrepparttar 114121 process, damage cell proteins and genetic material. This damage may leaverepparttar 114122 cell vulnerable to cancer. Antioxidants are substances that allowrepparttar 114123 human body to scavenge and seize oxidants. Like other antioxidants,repparttar 114124 catechins found in tea selectively inhibit specific enzyme activities that lead to cancer. They may also target and repair DNA aberrations caused by oxidants (1).

2. What isrepparttar 114125 level of antioxidants found in tea?

All varieties of tea come fromrepparttar 114126 leaves of a single evergreen plant, Camellia sinensis. All tea leaves are picked, rolled, dried, and heated. Withrepparttar 114127 additional process of allowingrepparttar 114128 leaves to ferment and oxidize, black tea is produced. Possibly because it is less processed, green tea contains higher levels of antioxidants than black tea.

Although tea is consumed in a variety of ways and varies in its chemical makeup, one study showed steeping either green or black tea for about five minutes released over 80 percent of its catechins. Instant iced tea, onrepparttar 114129 other hand, contains negligible amounts of catechins (1).

3. What arerepparttar 114130 laboratory findings?

Inrepparttar 114131 laboratory, studies have shown tea catechins act as powerful inhibitors of cancer growth in several ways: They scavenge oxidants before cell injuries occur, reducerepparttar 114132 incidence and size of chemically induced tumors, and inhibitrepparttar 114133 growth of tumor cells. In studies of liver, skin and stomach cancer, chemically induced tumors were shown to decrease in size in mice that were fed green and black tea (1, 2).

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