Beating the Common Cold!
www.duttondds.com
By Dr. Mercola
Each year Americans catch more than one billion colds,
making the cold virus the most common infectious disease in the United States.
If your immune system is impaired, on the other hand, it's
akin to having an open-door policy for viruses; they'll easily take hold in
your body. So the simple and short answer is, you catch a cold due to
impairment in your immune system. There are many ways this can result, but the
more common contributing factors are:
Eating too much sugar and too many grains
Not getting enough rest
Using insufficient strategies to address emotional stressors
in your life
Vitamin D deficiency, as discussed below
Any combination of the above
Vitamin D Deficiency: Another Reason You May
"Catch" a Cold
It's estimated that the average U.S. adult typically has two
to four colds each year, while children may have up to 12! One reason for the
widespread prevalence may be that vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common in
the United States, especially during the winter months when cold (and flu)
viruses are at their peak.
Research has confirmed that "catching" colds and
flu may actually be a symptom of an underlying vitamin D deficiency. Less than
optimal vitamin D levels will significantly impair your immune response and
make you far more susceptible to contracting colds, influenza, and other
respiratory infections.
In the largest and most nationally representative study of
its kind to date, involving about 19,000 Americans, people with the lowest
vitamin D levels reported having significantly more recent colds or cases of
the flu -- and the risk was even greater for those with chronic respiratory
disorders like asthma.
At least five additional studies also show an inverse
association between lower respiratory tract infections and vitamin D levels,
and you can read about them in detail here. But the research is very clear, the
higher your vitamin D level, the lower your risk of contracting colds, flu, and
other respiratory tract infections.
It's not surprising, then, that the average American gets so
many colds each year, as current guidelines for optimal intake and normal
vitamin D levels are far too low -- and since most people do not get adequate
sun exposure on a daily basis (which is what produces vitamin D in your skin)
many are deficient. I strongly believe you could avoid colds and influenza
entirely by maintaining your vitamin D level in the optimal range.
How quickly you bounce back is typically defined by you and
your collective lifestyle habits -- and this does not mean popping
over-the-counter cough and cold remedies or fever reducers. In fact, as long as
your temperature remains below 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius)
there is no need to lower it.
Cold viruses do not reproduce at higher body temperatures,
so a slight fever should help you get rid of the virus quicker and help you to
feel better much sooner.
You should avoid taking over-the-counter pain-relief
medications as well, as a study showed that people who take aspirin and Tylenol
(acetaminophen) suppress their body's ability to produce antibodies to destroy
the cold virus. Aspirin has even been linked to lung complications including
pulmonary edema, an abnormal build up of fluid in your lungs, when taken in
excess.
You should only use these medications when absolutely
necessary, such as if you have a temperature greater than 105 degrees F (40.5
degrees C), severe muscle aches or weakness.
Hydrogen Peroxide: A
Simple Trick to Beat a Cold
I don't advise over-the-counter medications, but one simple
treatment you can try that is surprisingly effective against upper respiratory
infections is hydrogen peroxide.
Many patients at my Natural Health Center have had
remarkable results in curing colds and flu within 12 to 14 hours when
administering a few drops of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into each ear.
You will hear some bubbling, which is completely normal, and possibly feel a
slight stinging sensation.
Wait until the bubbling and stinging subside (usually 5 to
10 minutes), then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear. A bottle
of hydrogen peroxide in 3 percent solution is available at any drug store for a
couple of dollars or less. It is simply amazing how many people respond to this
simple, inexpensive treatment.
So What Else Can You do to Recover From a Cold, Quicker …
and Prevent One in the First Place?
As I said above, the number one way to conquer a cold (or
flu) is vitamin D. Vitamin D is an amazingly effective antimicrobial agent,
producing 200 to 300 different antimicrobial peptides in your body that kill
bacteria, viruses and fungi. So optimizing your levels will not only help send
a cold virus packing … it will help ward off cold viruses in the first place.
The best source for vitamin D is direct sun exposure. But
for many of us, this just isn't practical during the winter. The next best
option to sunlight is the use of a safe indoor tanning device. If neither
natural nor artificial sunlight is an option, then using oral vitamin D3
supplements is your best bet.
Based on the latest research, many experts now agree you
need about 35 IU's of vitamin D per pound of body weight. This recommendation
also includes children, the elderly and pregnant women.
However, keep in mind that vitamin D requirements are highly
individual, as your vitamin D status is dependent on numerous factors, such as
the color of your skin, your location, and how much sunshine you're exposed to
on a regular basis. So, although these recommendations may put you closer to
the ballpark of what most people likely need, it is simply impossible to make a
blanket recommendation that will cover everyone's needs.
The only way to determine your optimal dose is to get your
blood tested. Ideally, you'll want to maintain a vitamin D level of 50-65 ng/ml
year-round.
Dietary Strategies to Kick a Cold
If you feel yourself coming down with a cold or flu, this is
NOT the time to be eating ANY sugar, artificial sweeteners or processed foods.
Sugar is particularly damaging to your immune system -- which needs to be
ramped up, not suppressed, in order to combat an emerging infection.
So if you are fighting a cold, you'll want to avoid all
sugar like the plague, and this includes sugar in the form of fruit juice and
even grains (which break down as sugar in your body).
So when you're coming down with a cold, it's time to address
ALL of the contributing factors immediately, which includes tweaking your diet
in favor of foods that will strengthen your immune response. Good choices
include:
Raw, grass-fed organic milk, and/or high-quality whey
protein
Fermented foods such as raw kefir, kimchee, miso, pickles,
sauerkraut, etc, which are rich in probiotics, or good bacteria. Scientific
research shows that 80 percent of your immune system resides inside your
digestive tract, so eating probiotic-rich foods, or taking a high-quality
probiotic, will help support your immune system health.
Raw, organic eggs from free-ranging, preferably local,
chickens
Grass-fed beef
Coconuts and coconut oil
Animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil
Locally grown fruits and vegetables, appropriate for your
nutritional type
Mushrooms, especially Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake, which
contain beta glucans (which have immune-enhancing properties)
Garlic, a potent antimicrobial that kills bacteria, viruses
and fungi. Ideally this should be in fresh form, eaten raw and crushed with a
spoon just before eating.
Herbs and spices with high ORAC scores: Turmeric, oregano,
cinnamon, cloves
Make sure you are drinking plenty of fresh, pure water. Water
is essential for the optimal function of every system in your body and will
help with nose stuffiness and loosening secretions. You should drink enough
water so that your urine is a light, pale yellow.
