The average U.S. adult catches the rhinovirus, which causes the common cold, two to three times every year, warns the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While there’s no cure for the cold virus, there are several strange, wacky but scientifically proven ways to reduce your risks of being infected by the virus and speed up your recovery once you’re infected!
1. Eat a Coconut
Whether fresh on a tropical beach, or as coconut oil or coconut milk in your favorite foods and smoothies, coconut is high in lauric acid and medium chain fatty acids.
According to a study published in the Biochemical Pharmacology journal, MCTs help to boost the strength of your immune system, powering up your natural immunity to the cold virus and other viruses in general. Meanwhile, lauric acid acts as an all-natural antimicrobial, killing any bugs that make you sick.
2. Do Some Yoga
Do some downward dog to bring down the cold virus.
In a scientific study released in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers noted that yogis have higher amounts of antioxidants throughout their body. That means doing yoga strengthens your immune system and makes you more resilient to viral infections.
“Regular yoga practice remarkably attenuated oxidative stress and improved antioxidant levels of the body,” concluded the study. “Moreover, yoga beneficially affected stress hormone releases as well as partially improved immune function.”
Plus, yoga counts as exercise, and doing 30 minutes of exercise a day improves all health and wellness markers.
3. Watch a Funny Movie
The next time you’re sick with a cold or any other form of viral infection, you have a good reason to turn on a funny movie or TV show and relax on the couch. In a study published in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine medical journal, scientists found that laughter is literally good medicine!
Humor and laughter were¶ found to reduce stress (stress lowers your immune system) and improve your immune strength. “The health benefits of humor are well documented by the scientific and medical community,” notes the researchers. The study also found that laughter could reduce the sensation of pain, so if your cold is making you feel stuffy or miserable, reach for the TV remote instead of cough syrup.
