Although almost 10 billion vaccination shots have been administered worldwide, people are still being infected by COVID-19. This also means that people are eating more snacks as they stay indoors to try to mitigate the spread of the virus. Aside from doctors, hiring a certified nutritionist can help individuals maintain a healthy diet to improve their immune system as well as possibly suggest home remedies for those who contracted COVID-19.
Here are three remedies you can try to strengthen your immune system, soothe aches, and get COVID-19 out of the way:
Honey, Lemon, and Ginger Tea
Similar to what you can find in lozenges, the combination of honey, lemon, and ginger as a cup of hot tea is known to be a traditional solution for those with a sore throat. All three ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the irritation you feel when you have to cough a lot to remove the pathogens from your body. They also have antimicrobial properties that can help your immune system overcome whichever microorganism is causing you to feel sick.
You can prepare the tea by peeling some ginger, slicing it, and then adding it to a pot of water. Bring the solution to a boil. Transfer ginger tea into a mug. You can drink it as it is if you would like, but it might taste more like broth than a beverage. To enhance its flavor and benefits, adding half or a quarter lemon can make it taste more like a lozenge you might buy at a convenience store or pharmacy. Some sugar will also improve the flavor, and you can use any sweetener you like. Still, honey is the best one due to its aforementioned antimicrobial properties. Natural sources of sugar, such as honey or fruit, can reduce the anti-inflammatory effects that artificial sugar may cause.
Exposure to Sunlight
Sunlight therapy is being researched by scientists and doctors because of the claims made on its impact on the health of an individual. Although there is no hard science behind its impact on the immune system, it is known to be a source of vitamin D and ultraviolet (UV) light. Vitamin D is one of the many vitamins your body needs to fulfill its functions, such as protection from diseases. UV light is similar to ginger because it also has antimicrobial properties. This is why UV light is commonly used to disinfect and treat water.
Aside from these, sunlight is also known to increase the production of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is the happy hormone, and this can be an excellent way to start developing a positive mindset- a necessary trait when you fall ill. Getting sick can be discouraging, demoralizing, and depressing, so you will need all the serotonin you can get into your system. Once you develop a positive mindset, you will also be able to be more resilient toward the emotional effects of becoming ill. These could be reasons why people tend to recommend that you get 30 minutes of sunlight every day to protect yourself from COVID-19.
Salt and Water Gargling Solution
In chemistry, “salting out” is a method by which two different fluids are separated from one another. Salt tends to attract other molecules, making it ideal for separation processes. In the same way, gargling with some salt and water can help reduce the bacteria in your mouth. This can be a cheaper alternative to buying special mouthwash such as Betadine or Bactidol, and it will not have a strange aftertaste.
Simply add half a teaspoon of salt to one cup of water. You can make the water warm to help better dissolve the salt. Make sure to stir the solution well and gargle it for a few seconds before spitting it out. A salt and water gargling solution is also known to reduce the chances of you developing mouth diseases such as gingivitis.
Home remedies can help you reduce your costs during the pandemic while priming you and your immune system for better protection against COVID-19. Consuming food that lessens the inflammation in your body can significantly mitigate the effects of any illness while providing a soothing experience for the parts that are in pain or are greatly affected by the disease. Aside from COVID-19, these home remedies are also claimed to have an impact on similar illnesses that may resemble some symptoms of the virus. Prevention is better than cure, so use these tips to prepare your immune system from any future attacks caused by any pathogen.
