Colds feel worse to lonely people, study suggests

Having a cold can be a miserable experience, but it turns out that the symptoms may seem worse if you feel lonely.

A study by a team of US researchers has found while loneliness does not appear to have any impact on an individual’s chance of falling ill with a cold, or the actual severity of the symptoms, it does seem to be linked to feeling more under the weather.

But results show that feeling worse was not linked to the size of a person’s social network.

“When it comes to our health it seems that it is the quality of our social relationships that may be more important than just the quantity,” said Angie LeRoy, a co-author of the study from Rice University.

Writing in the journal Health Psychology, LeRoy and colleagues from a clutch of US universities describe how they probed the link between cold symptoms and loneliness by asking 213 healthy adults to complete questionnaires related to loneliness, their social networks and their mood before being infected with the common cold through nasal drops.

The participants were quarantined for five days, during which time they were asked to record their symptoms, such as sneezing, a runny nose or sore throat, and log the severity of their symptoms on a five point scale. In total, 159 of the participants developed a cold and had complete data.

After taking into account factors including age, sex, the season, education, income and mood markers, analysis of results from these participants revealed that those who scored higher on loneliness were no more likely to get a cold than those with low scores, but they did report symptoms of greater severity.

Delving deeper, the team found that the link was not down to the size of individuals’ social networks. “It doesn’t matter if they had a large social network,” said LeRoy. “It mattered about how they felt about their social network.”

However, when the researchers looked at the weight of mucus produced by each participant in the study, they found that there was no link to loneliness, suggesting that while loneliness was linked to how rotten participants felt, lonelier individuals were not more physically sick.

“Loneliness wasn’t necessary associated to how biologically ill they were in terms of the severity of their cold but it was associated with how severe they perceive their symptoms to be,” LeRoy told the Guardian. The authors say that helping those who are lonely build ties to others could help to reduce how bad they feel when they catch a cold.

LeRoys admits that the study does not show that loneliness is causing the perception of worse symptoms – indeed the authors note that, for example, those who are lonely often have poorer sleep. But, she says: “We measured loneliness before we exposed them to the cold and then we measured their symptoms, which infers that the loneliness came first.”

LeRoy adds that, combined with previous studies highlighting the link between loneliness and negative impacts on health, doctors and other medical professionals should take note of their patients’ mental state both when patients register and when they are unwell.

“How [patients] feel before [they are unwell] obviously could influence how they feel when they are sick, even with something as simple as a cold,” she said.

Colds feel worse to lonely people, study suggests

Study Concludes That Raw Milk Boosts Immunity and Prevents Colds

Study Concludes That Raw Milk Boosts Immunity and Prevents Colds

Top 7 Herbal Plants to Combat Flu and Colds

Colds and flu affect everyone, especially at certain times of the year. Treat symptoms safely with herbs. There is less risk of side effects because they’re all-natural.

The best herbal plants for colds and flu have been in use for hundreds of years. Scientific studies have found that these herbs contain different compounds that help in the fight against infections, including flu and colds. Some of these compounds attack the organisms that cause the sickness.

Some of the compounds help ease the body’s inflammatory responses to exposure to threats such as dust and pollen. And some strengthen the immune cells to better respond to the threats.

Astragalus membranaceus

Simply called Astragalus, this perennial plant contains compounds in its roots that can help in boosting the function of the immune system. The yellow root is sliced and added to stews and soup during the cooking process. Remove the root right before serving. The compounds from the roots can help boost antibody production, white blood cells, and T cells. All these help combat microorganisms that cause flu and cold symptoms.

This herb is very helpful but should never be taken by a pregnant woman for safety reasons.

Black Pepper

Traditional Chinese medicine has been using this herb to reduce phlegm from colds. There are so many ways to use this herb. Add a dash to soups, bone-broths, salads, or even in a cup of herbal tea.

Cinnamon
Also known as Cinnamomum verum, cinnamon is not just a sweet-smelling spice for great dishes. It can help heal the gut and strengthen your body against sickness. It helps to warm the body during flu season. It also helps in clearing mucus congestion resulting from flu and colds.

Top 9 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cowslip
These plants are commonly found in the country meadows. The roots have the compound called triterpenoid saponins. These are effective as expectorant agents. To help relieve chest congestion and loosen phlegm from colds and flu, make a decoction using the roots. Put 1 ounce of root into 1 cup of water. Boil then simmer the mixture for 20 minutes. Strain and cool slightly. Drink several times a day until chest congestion is relieved.

For safety purposes, avoid taking this herbal plant when taking aspirin or anti-coagulants (e.g. warfarin). Pregnant women are also not advised to take cowslip.

Echinacea purpurea
Commonly called Echinacea, this is another herbal plant that can help with faster recovery from flu and colds. This is actually the main herb that comes to mind when talking about natural ways to treat colds and flu. The root is made into tea by simmering it in water for about 10 minutes. Echinacea can speed up recovery time from flu and colds if taken during the earliest stage of infection. Once signs and symptoms of colds and flu are experienced, take Echinacea immediately. This can reduce sick days from 5-7 days to merely 2-3 days.

People with allergies to ragweed and other members of the aster plant family are advised not to take Echinacea. Symptoms may worsen and allergic reactions may even be triggered.

Eucalyptus
Who can leave out eucalyptus when talking about colds? This is the active ingredient in most over-the-counter chest rubs that promise to relieve chest and nasal congestion. Use eucalyptus essential oil for relief. Add a few drops of the essential oil in a pot of boiling water to release the vapors. Inhaling the vapors can help in clearing the sinuses and in treating bronchial infections.

Garlic
This pungent spice commonly used in so many dishes is also an effective herbal remedy for flu and colds. Garlic or Allium sativum has been an important herbal treatment for various conditions for the last 5,000 years. It is rich in compounds with antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties work together to fight flu-causing microorganisms and soothe cold symptoms.

There are more herbal plants that can help treat flu and colds. These are generally safe when taken in their natural form. However, some conditions such as allergies and pregnancy require more caution when taking these herbs. Check with a physician before taking any herbal plant or herbal product for safety.

Sources: herbgardens.about.com, rodalewellness.com, motherearthliving.com

Related Reading:

8 Steps to Make Garlic Juice to Get Its 9+ Healing Benefits

Turmeric Golden Honey – Why It Is A Miracle

9 Natural Antibiotics That Are More Effective Than Prescribed Drugs

Top 7 Herbal Plants to Combat Flu and Colds

Squash Colds and Flu With These Scrumptious Soup Recipes

With the winter season looming for many of us, our thoughts start to drift in the direction of warming food items and recipes that can not only fill us up but also support fight the inevitable colds and flu that start off circulating through colleges and houses. The trick is finding recipes that you and the household will really like, that have adequate anti-bacterial and viral exercise to truly ward off infections and support eliminate them must they consider and take hold.

In this vein, here are two seasonal, warming, and infection fighting soups that are straightforward to make and delightful to the taste buds.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

This delicious soup supplies the seasonal flavour of squash and combines it with a selection of warming vegetables and spices, to generate a meal that is high in vitamin C and loaded with antibacterial and viral qualities. Make a large batch, because it will go rapidly!

Components

• one medium butternut squash


• 3 tbsp of coconut oil


• 1 medium onion, diced


• two cloves of garlic, minced


• two tsp of minced fresh ginger root


• one tbsp curry powder


• 1 tsp sea salt


• four cups natural chicken broth


• 2 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and diced


• one/two cup of coconut milk

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375F (190C)


• Reduce squash in half lengthwise discard seeds and membrane.


• Location squash halves, lower sides down, on the ready baking sheet.


• Roast in preheated oven until quite soft, about 45 minutes.


• Scoop the pulp from the peel, and reserve.


• Melt coconut oil in a large soup pot above medium heat.


• Stir in the onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder, and salt.


• Cook and stir till the onion is soft, about ten minutes.


• Pour the chicken broth into the pot, and carry to a boil.


• Stir in the pears and the reserved squash, and simmer till the pears are really soft, about thirty minutes.


• Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no a lot more than halfway total. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and meticulously start the blender. Puree in batches till smooth.


• Return the soup to the pot, stir in the coconut milk, and reheat if essential.

Squash Ginger Soup

This soup also incorporates the seasonal vegetables of squash and carrots with the zing of ginger, to supply a jolt of vitamin C, carotene, along with the antibacterial and viral attributes of ginger. If you like a spicier soup, this will hit the spot!

Ingredients

• 1-two tbsp natural extra virgin coconut oil


• 1 acorn or butternut squash, skinned and chopped


• two medium carrots, chopped


• two medium onions, chopped


• two celery sticks, chopped


• three cloves of garlic, minced


• Huge piece of ginger root (3 inches lengthy)


• Spring or filtered water


• Sea salt to taste

Directions

• Sauté carrots, onions, celery, and garlic in coconut oil.


• Add squash and ginger.


• Cover with filtered or spring water.


• Simmer for thirty minutes.


• Puree and alter water to wanted consistency.


• Add sea salt and simmer for 10 far more minutes.

For far more delicious and infection busting soup recipes, including the greatest soup for sickness recipe, pay a visit to right here.

For your silver bullet to knock out a cold or flu infection, use this Antibiotic Tonic recipe.

Sources for this article contain:

http://www.healingthebody.ca/curried-butternut-squash-soup-recipe/
http://www.healingthebody.ca/squash-ginger-soup-recipe/

About the author:

Derek Henry took a deadly overall health challenge that standard medicine couldn’t resolve and self-directed a a single-in-a-million wellness journey that found him happier and more healthy than he had been in his entire existence. As a end result of this rewarding journey, he developed Healing the Body and grew to become a effectively revered holistic overall health coach who now spends his time writing, coaching, and educating thousands of people every month who want to get pleasure from comparable final results.

His Wellness Transformation E-Guidebook and THRIVE On the web Health Plan are two crucial assets for any individual who wishes to have the intelligence and solutions to grow to be really effectively.

Squash Colds and Flu With These Scrumptious Soup Recipes

Natural Remedies for Tackling Coughs and Colds

Coughs and colds are usually belittled as mild illnesses but they can make carrying on with your day-to-day regimen quite hard. Every single time you get a cold, it is triggered by one particular of more than two hundred different viruses. It is no shock that we’ve by no means identified a genuine remedy!

With cold signs and symptoms ranging from a runny nose and sneezing via to muscle soreness and a headache, it is understandable that folks feel like they want anything to assist them battle by way of their day. But with worries about side results which can be broad ranging though rare, some choose to attain for a organic treatment to tackle the symptoms and help shorten the lifestyle-cycle of their cold.

Coughing can similarly cease your day in its tracks: interfering with your rest, it can be exhausting and prolonged poor coughs can be quite unpleasant. But, as the NHS Direct admits, it is debateable whether more than-the-counter cough medicines in fact perform and in accordance to a report by the Cardiff University’s Typical Cold Centre, their impact is most likely to be down to the placebo result:

In clinical trials on cough medicines, up to 85% of the reduction in coughs is linked with the placebo therapy and the energetic pharmacological element of the medication only contributes 15% of the reduction.

Understandably, several individuals seem for option remedies when hit with the signs and symptoms of a cough.

So which organic treatments for coughs and colds have proven to be effective? Beneath we seem at three remedies that have acquired reputation in excess of the many years and the science behind their effectiveness:

Echinacea

Echinacea items proceed to rank in the prime supplements sold to support the immune program and many individuals heavily endorse its use as a organic different to over-the-counter preparations. Supplements are broadly utilized to treat the widespread cold and a host of other infections, and some men and women find it is soothing for coughs when taken as a herbal tea. The Echinacea herb is considered to be an immunostimulator, which means that it stimulates your immune program to help fight infections and hold them at bay. Study into the supplement has shown that it is likely to decrease the duration and severity of cold signs at least by a modest sum, despite the fact that there is not enough evidence to say for definite whether it can avert a cold.

Zinc

Discovered in the body’s cells, Zinc is a trace component that helps your immune method to fight off invading viruses and bacteria. Analysis into the effectiveness of Zinc dietary supplements by the Cochrane Foundation in 2011 seems to be extremely favourable: a review that the NHS describes as ‘likely to be reliable’ showed that those that took Zinc inside of 24 hours of cold signs appearing saw a reduction in the duration and severity of their cold symptoms. The research also reviews that people taking the dietary supplements for at least five months have been significantly less likely to catch colds. Zinc supplements are for that reason likely to be valuable in not only fighting off coughs and colds, but trying to keep them at bay as well.

Steam

Inhaling steam is an age old remedy that is equally advantageous for coughs and colds. If you are struggling from a cold, this old trick can actually help to ease your drippy nose and congestion. If it is a cough that is creating your life miserable, it will aid flush out the mucus and moisturise dry, irritated air passageways.

Run boiling water into a pot, hold your head above it and breathe in by means of your nose for ten to fifteen minutes. Some individuals find placing a towel over their head can assist trap the steam, but really do not let the steam to intelligent or burn. Even though you can purchase a particular humidifier to help with this process, the steam will be just the same as that which you get from utilizing a bowl and they are almost certainly not well worth the added expense. Adding a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil can further increase the effectiveness of this remedy – the oil is deemed to be an effective respiratory decongestant.

A sizzling steamy bath or shower can also assist relieve congestion, as can a saline nasal spray. Guaranteeing that your space is humidified will also aid ease a cough, as dry air can be the result in of additional irritation.

Often consult your medical doctor or pharmacist if you are at all uncertain which cough or cold remedy is appropriate for you.

This write-up was written by Carly, a blogger who enjoys Zumba dancing, operating and organising her Filofax (yes, actually).  Carly writes on behalf of Nature’s Greatest, a firm that manufactures and exams foods dietary supplements in the Uk.

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Natural Remedies for Tackling Coughs and Colds