5 Foods That May Help You Feel Better During a Cold

When you’re down and out from a bad cold, you’ll probably do just about anything to rid that virus from your body. But before you guzzle your mom’s “magic” cure-all smoothie or load up on questionable supplements, hear this. Research shows there’s a handful of science-backed, non-superstitious remedies to soothe cold symptoms — and many of them may be in your pantry right now.

The best way to kick a cold? Along with these cold-fighting eats, drink plenty of fluids and sleep. When you’re better, avoid round two: Nix these seemly innocent daily habits that make it easier to get sick.

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

Reviewed by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

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