colds

One serving of eight medium strawberries contains 84 milligrams of Vitamin C and a boost against colds and flu, says a U.S. expert. Considered a superfood, strawberries are loaded with nutrients, are low in sugar, and contain more Vitamin C than oranges, according to Dr. Navindra Seeram of the University of California Los Angeles Center for Human Nutrition. Most people associate vitamin Read more...

Medicinal potions are all well and good, but when it comes to colds and flu, what you eat and drink can be just as important. The British consumer's guide Which? magazine says some remedies have been used successfully for generations, and many people swear by them. A prime example is chicken soup -- often the first item of food you get when you feel well enough to eat something. Actually, Read more...

A woman walks into the kitchen and finds her husband kissing the maid. "What are you doing?" she demands. "You have a terrible cold, and you're going to give it to her, and she's going to give it to the chauffeur. And then the chauffeur is going to give it to me." Read more...

What, me get a flu shot? Yes, if you're prone to colds or other infections or have at least one risk factor for complications from the flu such as heart disease or diabetes. The American Academy of Family Physicians recently lowered the recommended age for adults to routinely receive influenza vaccinations from 65 to 50. Researchers say fewer than 30 percent of adults under age 65 and at Read more...

Living life in the fast track may be one route to success, but a new study suggests it also could be a short cut to the sick bed. It seems stress caused by frantic lifestyles also is triggering more coughs and colds. A medical poll conducted by the Britain's Survey Shop indicates that more than 75 percent of the 1,051 men and women questioned said they felt more stressed out because of the Read more...

Why do those "hay fever" symptoms linger into fall and winter? Perennial allergies may be the culprits, medical experts say. Scientists at the National Allergy Bureau say during winter, because many of the symptoms of both colds and allergies are similar, it is often difficult to distinguish between the two. And the indoor environment often is to blame. Perennial allergies Read more...

Once caught, a cold or flu is notoriously hard to shake. Many people find relief with echinacea, an herb that appears to improve the body's ability to fight infection, thereby cutting short the bug’s duration and intensity. But women and physicians alike have been reluctant to use and/or prescribe echinacea during pregnancy. Avoiding medicinal herbs -- especially during the first trimester -- Read more...

Keeping your immune system as strong as possible is vital when battling colds or flu -- and just any food simply won't do, says London health expert Oona Mashta. Mashta says the wrong diet can harm the immune system and may reduce energy levels. "Avoid junk food," she says. "Choose hot, tasty soups, which will wash out the virus and help to thin out mucus secretions from the Read more...