FitSugar

Feeling Sick? Do These 3 Things Stat

Leta Shy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:16:08 PST

It starts with a few sniffles, a scratchy throat, or a nagging cough. Many times you don't think twice about it, either because you're too busy or you just hope it goes away soon. As soon as those telltale signs of an oncoming cold appear, follow these tips to encourage a speedy recovery.

Take zinc: When the sniffles strike, take zinc; it's been proven to shorten the life span of colds, as well as make symptoms less severe. The studies found that zinc only works when taken as soon as your cold symptoms begin, so hit the cold aisle as soon as you notice any rundown feelings.
Make rest a priority: You don't have to quarantine yourself, but you do have to rest. If you feel a cold coming on, don't just ignore it; revamp your schedule so your day includes plenty of rest. Whether that means canceling evening plans or foregoing the DVR for an earlier bedtime, make rest a priority.
Drink water and tea: Staying hydrated should be your top priority, but that doesn't mean you should reach for sugary sodas or dehydrating cocktails. Keep your water bottle full and drink some warming tea (try our recipes for cold-fighting ginger tea and sage tea for a cough) to hydrate and feel better.

Besides these three things, don't forget to exercise regularly (but not if you're too sick!); it helps build your immunity so you can cut colds short or prevent them from happening in the first place.

How to Fend Off a Cold When Flying

Heather Dale — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 04:00:40 PST

Airplanes may get you from A to B, but they also transport something else - billions of germs. It may be part psychological, but every time I step onto an airplane, I feel like my immune system goes into overdrive and my body knows it's fight or flight time, literally! I'm not completely overreacting, because according to WebMD, you are 100 times more likely to catch a cold on a plane than you are in your normal day-to-day life. To keep a nice protective barrier between you and this germ-friendly breeding ground, here are some of my favorite defense mechanisms.

7 Ways to Stay Stylish With the Cold and Flu

Julia Walsh — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:05:00 PST

I spent the better half of last week recovering from - and straight up getting my butt kicked by - the flu. And let me tell you, it was not a pretty sight. Not only was I, myself, in historically dreadful form with a temperature of 103 degrees F, but after blowing my nose through a roll of toilet paper (I know, I was out of tissues) and scattering a potpourri of beverages and medicines, from Sudafed to Codeine, around my apartment, the place looked like World World III. Next time, I'll be better prepared. Why? Because I've composed a list of the most stylish essentials ever for anyone who's going to tempt fate and skip out on her annual flu shot.

The Jonathan Adler Pill Carafe ($48) should be set firmly on your bedside (or coffee table, if you're going to konk out in front of a film) to help keep you hydrated.
No matter how you look at it, there's nothing sexy about blowing your nose. But at least your home will look ravishing with the Horchow Horn Tissue Box Cover ($375).
If you're running a fever and you get the chills, you can stay warm and cute with the Angora Wool Pink Heart Hot Water Bottle ($40).
When you run out to the doctor or the pharmacy, keep your meds handy in the Judith Lieber Austrian Crystal Bird Pill Box ($695).
When you're home, keep your Zicam and your Advil corralled in the Rever Pill Box ($48), made of antique brass.
Brew some chamomile in the Christofle Geometrie Teapot ($5,500), created in the 1970s by master silversmith Jacques Citoleux.
And when it's time to cut the day short, keep your NyQuil (or Ambien, if you're lucky) handy on your nightstand in the Jonathan Adler Downers Jar ($120).

There's a spoonful of CasaSugar to help the medicine go down.

Zinc Works at Shortening Colds, Study Says

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:05:42 PST

Taking zinc can shorten the life of the common cold, says a review of numerous medical studies. And while chicken soup might soothe the soul, zinc can make symptoms like a runny nose and sore throat feel less harsh and also shorten the length of a cold by a few days. The only catch is that it must be taken at the very first signs of a cold to work.

Fifteen studies looking at the effects of zinc on the common cold were reviewed by Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and results showed that the benefits of zinc "were significant," reports The New York Times. In one study, zinc cut the life of a cold from seven days to four days, and in another study, the duration of a cough was reduced by three days. What doctors don't yet know is why zinc seems to work or which zinc products work best. And with so many zinc products on the market, this unknown piece of knowledge can make for a confusing shopping spree. While all of the studies used various forms of zinc in a range of doses, the general consensus is that it does work to shorten colds and make symptoms less severe. Have any of you found success with zinc?

Quiz: Cold From Your Head to Your Toes

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 08:30:37 PST

I have learned to embrace the cold. It's what you have to do to enjoy the snowy sports of Winter. But how are those cold temperatures affecting my body, and am I doing all I can to hold in my body heat? Take this quiz and see if you know all about the cold, from your head to your toes.

Take the Quiz

Why Hand Sanitizer May Make You a Better Employee

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:00:19 PDT

To avoid germs, I'm pretty fanatical about washing my hands. I also keep a bottle of hand sanitizer next to my desk. Not only am I keeping germs away, I'm a better employee because of it! Alcohol-based hand sanitizers improve job productivity and reduce the number of days employees are out sick, says a new study. Researchers in Germany found that sick days dropped significantly in offices where hand sanitizer is available.

The study split up a group of 129 participants: one group stuck to their normal hand-washing routine, and the other used hand sanitizer at least five times a day. At the end of the year, the employees who used hand sanitizer reported fewer sick days than those in the control group. They also reported fewer cold and flu symptoms in general. And while job productivity of the two groups was not measured, the researchers deduce that fewer sick days and better health translates into better on-the-job performance. But don't think that this study means you can skip out on soap and water, since hand sanitizer won't kill all viruses, like norovirus or E. coli.

A Reader's Way to Feed a Cold

Fit Community — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 03:00:19 PDT

Here's what FitSugar reader Mee-shell is eating to beat her Summer cold. She uploaded this photo to the Snack Attack: Healthy Snack Ideas group in the FitSugar Community.

My afternoon snack of the week: fresh fruit topped with pepitas (pumpkin seeds). A green smoothie on the side. Hoping all this fruity goodness will kick the cold out of my system!

Do you have an image of something healthy and delicious that you recently made or enjoyed? Upload it and we might highlight it here on FitSugar!

5 Reasons You Have a Summer Cold

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:00:32 PDT

Over the Fourth of July weekend, four friends and I were all hit with a doozy of a cold, the worst. It even made us question the accepted belief that more people get sick in the Winter. But viruses still survive in the Summer sun, and some people can't fight off infection as well as others. There are ways to protect yourself, which is a must, given all the traveling, eating, and lounge time taking place this season. Here are ways to take care of yourself so you'll stay far away from a weekend full of Kleenex, cough medicine, and mega doses of vitamin C.

From An Outside Eye: The Suffering of Plague, and the Plague of Suffering

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:00:33 PDT

Here's a lesson on suffering from the OnSugar blog An Outside Eye.

In my last blog I went on and on about how, when I finally succumbed to the plague for the first time this season, I took pristine, unwavering, ferocious care of myself and immediately started to feel better.

But alas, that wasn't the end of the story.

On day two of my plague, I decided to brave leaving the house in order to go to my Buddhism class at Spirit Rock. I bundled up, made a thermos of hot herbal tea, turned the heat as high as it would go in the Subie, and off I went.

That night, our class was all about the First Noble Truth: There is suffering.

As I sat through the dharma talk, I got colder and colder, and sniffier and sniffier, and felt more and more like dying. The next morning, I woke up with amplified, exponential plague.

I totally get that suffering is optional.

I totally get that it's the story we create around our experience that causes suffering.

I totally get that, with practice, we can step back and disassociate ourselves from the suffering.

I know all these things in theory. But in practice it's a whole different story. I'm not sure if it's ironic or apropos that the morning after the dharma talk on suffering, I felt more suffering than I've ever felt in my life (yes, I'm exaggerating, obviously).

To find out what Joslyn learned about suffering continue reading.

Sage Tea to Ward Off a Cough

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:00:48 PST

Some of you might remember that my aunt has a thing for conjuring up herbal remedies, like her cold-fighting ginger tea. So when I got hit with a nasty fever last week, I called dear ol' auntie first.

After I described my ailment, she said one word: sage. I was skeptical, mostly because I have never been a huge fan of the pungent, peppery herb. But since sage has been a longstanding healing plant, I whipped up my aunt's recipe. Not only was my cough suppressed, I could actually breathe for a few hours! Give this tea a try the next time you're feeling sickly.

To see the recipe,