Why are colds so common in the wintertime? What is the perfect way to top off short days, freezing temps, and awful driving conditions? A cold of course! What is better than alternating between scraping ice off your car and wiping your runny nose on your jacket sleeve?
All snot aside, Dr. Mercola states the reason we get the cold and flu in the wintertime is due to lack of sunlight, therefore the lack of vitamin D. There are many factors that contribute to our annual sickness, and it is important to remember that it is not the virus that causes the sickness; it is only a trigger. What really causes us to get sick is impairment to our immune systems caused by factors such as stress, lack of sleep, and lack of vitamin D. So in short, this means that the flu and cold are for the most part preventable!
If you do unfortunately succumb to the treacherous February cold, there are a few simple at-home solutions that can speed up the process. There are some obvious ones like getting more sleep, really trying to relax, and upping your Vitamin C intake. However, Dr. Mercola suggests something that I have never even heard of. Apparently to speed the process of a cold up, you tilt your head to one side, put hydrogen peroxide in it and hold it there for as long as you can. Then do the same to the other side. Even he is not sure why this works, but if you need to get back on track fast, I suppose it is worth a shot.