Sage
by ALIVE magazine
I thought cold season would end with spring's arrival but colds still seem to be making the rounds. What can I do to prevent springtime colds?
Answer by Peter Josling
Peter Josling is a biochemist with a PhD in natural medicine. He has published scientific articles on a variety of natural products.
The common cold is the world's most widespread viral infection, with most adults catching two to four colds annually, and children getting six to eight colds each year. Re-infection—yes, even in spring'—-is prevalent because of the wide variety of cold-causing viruses. One of more than 100 different viruses could be the culprit behind a cold.
Garlic supplements have shown promise in preventing and treating colds and improving overall immune function. Taking garlic supplements year-round may offer you the best protection. As with any new supplement, speak with your doctor or health care practitioner before you start taking it.
A clinical trial I conducted in 2001 examined how well a supplement containing allicin, a key garlic ingredient, prevents colds. More than 140 volunteers participated for 12 weeks. The group taking the allicin supplement caught 24 colds; the placebo group caught 65. Volunteers in the placebo group were more likely to catch more than one cold during the study period, and they also had longer lasting cold symptoms.
In short, volunteers taking the garlic supplement were less likely to get a cold, and they recovered more quickly if infected. They also showed reduced severity of symptoms like sneezing, coughing and runny nose.
In a 2012 study, aged garlic extract (AGE) reduced the severity of cold and flu symptoms. The study did not find that AGE reduced the incidence of colds and flus; however, those who took AGE missed fewer days of work and school due to illness. Plus, their bodies produced more immune cells.
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I WAS SHOCKED AT THIS ARTICLE IN THE APRIL 2015 EDITION OF THIS HEALTH MAGAZINE. READ THE FIRST SENTENCE AGAIN!
I HAD NO IDEA, NO IDEA AT ALL AT THE OVERALL STATS ABOUT COLDS, AND HOW PREVALENT THEY ARE.
I WAS A PRETTY HEALTHY LAD, WELL VERY HEALTHY REALLY, WHEN GROWING UP. I TOOK THE "HEALTH AND STRENGTH COURSE" FROM THE THEN FAMOUS CHARLES ATLAS. HENCE DURING MY TEENS I WAS EXCEPTIONALLY HEALTH, WHICH BEING ACTIVE IN SOCCER, CRICKET, TRACK AND FIELD, THE BOY SCOUTS AND CAMPING IN TENTS A LOT, ALL CONTRIBUTED TO MY VERY GOOD HEALTH; ALONG WITH GOOD EATING OF VERY GOOD FOODS [AND MAINLY ORGANIC BACK IN THE 1940s and 1950s] RECOMMENDED BY MR. ATLAS.
I HAVE CONTINUED WITH THIS OVERALL LIFE-STYLE FROM CHARLES ATLAS ALL MY LIFE; GETTING ENOUGH EXERCISE, SLEEP, GOOD FOODS, HAPPY POSITIVE MIND-SET, AND WHEN GETTING OLDER, TAKING REGULAR VITAMINS AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS…… GARLIC BEING ONE OF THEM.
I HAVE THEN ALWAYS HAD A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM.
SO IT WAS A SHOCK TO READ THIS ARTICLE AND THE GENERAL STATS OF THAT FIRST SENTENCE.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I HAD A COLD? WELL I THOUGHT ABOUT IT…… BEEN IN CALGARY JUST OVER 17 YEARS….. HAD A COLD …. TWICE I THINK …. YES CAN ONLY REMEMBER GETTING A COLD TWICE IN THE LAST 17 YEARS!!
I'VE ONLY HAD THE FLU ….. ALL OUT IN BED FOR 5 DAYS OR SO TWICE IN MY 72 YEARS OF LIFE; ONCE AS A KID, AND ONCE, MANY MANY YEARS AGO AS AN ADULT. YES I'VE HAD 4 OR 5 "ONE DAY FLU" OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, STOMACH FLU SOME CALL IT, IN MY LIFETIME.
FROM ABOUT AGE 55 I'VE TAKEN REGULAR DAILY VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS, WHICH IN THE LAST 10 YEARS HAS INCLUDED GARLIC SUPPLEMENTS.
SO IF REGULAR GARLIC HELPS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, SO DOES REGULAR EXERCISE, CORRECT AMOUNT OF SLEEP, AND A GOOD HEALTHY DIET.
THEY ALL CONTRIBUTE TO A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM, AND SO FEWER COLDS AND FLU.
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