Cold vs Flu

Some people wonder about cold vs flu symptoms and what differs from each one of them. 

The influenza disease or "the flu" has very similar symptoms to the cold, but differs with a few symptoms. 

The flu or cold has the same symptoms like runny nose, sore throat, chills, and fever. With these similar symptoms, flu is sometimes confused with the common cold. 

Some symptoms that are distinct to the flu and that are different from the common cold are nausea and vomiting.

The influenza disease is caused by one of the many viruses that are on the move each year. These viruses affect birds and mammals as well as humans.

As far as passing on these viruses, transmissions of such viruses are generally via direct contact with those infected or from aerosols spray from open mouth sneezing or coughing. 


The viruses that cause the common cold are different from the influenza viruses and include the rhinovirus and the corona virus. 


Dealing properly with flu or cold symptoms can help alleviate the pain that they cause and even lesson the length of time that you suffer.


I prefer to use natural remedies when at all possible. My absolute stand-by remedy that I keep on hand and begin to use immediately at the first hint of flu or cold symptoms is Herbal Fiberblend. HFB is a combination of several anti-parasitic and anti-fungal herbs that help flush viruses out of the system very quickly and efficiently. I wouldn't be without it!


Here are a few other natural rememdies that you might like to consider when treating your cold vs flu symptoms.


Nausea

For nausea, there are a lot of natural remedies but using herbal teas are recommended. Herbal teas like peppermint, ginger, chamomile, and caraway are just a few of the teas that you should consider trying.


Using herbal teas could not only help you ease your nausea, but they also may have a calming effect on the stomach and serve as a natural decongestant. I also find that they help me sleep.


Sore Throat

Ginger helps settle the stomach, but it can also be used to treat sore throat. Adding a slice of ginger root in hot water and using it as gargle water after it has cooled down a bit can have a quite comforting effect on the sore throat. 


Ginger is commonly sold as an extract or powder, but you can just pick up a piece of ginger root from the vegetable section of your grocery store and keep it in your fridge to use as needed throughout the cold vs flu season. 


And speaking of sore throats, Garlic is another natural remedy as it is high in selenium and also used to treat dry coughs. Garlic is also used as an anti-oxidant and could be added in soups or broths for easy consumption. 


If you don't like the taste of garlic or the smell associated with eating garlic, you can use a good garlic supplement, like Bear Paw Garlic.


I always keep plenty of Vitamin C on hand, too. Vitamin C is useful for sore throats, too, and helps boost your immune system.


Vitamin C, also known as L-Ascorbic acid, is recommended at a minimum of 2 grams (2000 mg) per day for you to be healthy. If I am fighting the flu or cold, I increase my daily dosage to 10 grams (10,000 mg) per day. Of course, you don't want to take more than 1,000mg per hour as your body won't be able to absorb more than that at one time and you'll end up passing it in your urine (thereby wasting your money). 


I most often purchase my Vitamin C supplements at Puritan's Pride as they have the best prices, but remember that there are also foods rich in vitamin C that you should eat, too. 


Preventive Maintenance - Boosting Your Immune System

Boosting you immune system is always important no matter what kind of sickness that you are enduring. But, you can even prevent or limit your chances of getting flu or cold symptoms by keeping your immune system strong.


A good healthy diet with a low sugar intake is a foundational first step to a strong immune system. Whole food supplements like the Garden Trio and antioxidants like Proancynol 2000 is a very practical and affordable way to help boost your immune system and keep it strong, particularly during the worst months of the cold vs flu season. 


Taking probiotics like Florafood is also wise. When you keep the good bacteria numbers high, they are more effective in fighting of the bad bacteria that you will inevitably encounter throughout your interaction with others as you live your daily life.


In my opinion, there is little difference when it comes to cold vs flu symptoms. They both make you feel miserable! The important thing is that you are knowledgeable and prepared for both prevention and treatment so that you and your family spend the least amount of time being unwell. 

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