Feeling A Little Under The Weather?

It's that time of year we all dread, cold and flu season. It seems to catch up to most of us at some point unfortunately. My husband has had a bad cold and a linger sore throat that is bothering him. I started looking up different remedies he could try and found a great list from Health.com. If you have a pesky sore throat, give some of these a try. It's nice to not have one more bottle of medicine in the cabinet that doesn't really work and to be able to find some comfort in items you probably already have at your house.

Saltwater Gargle: There are several studies that have shown that gargling salt water every day can reduce swelling in the throat and loosen mucus. Which in turn helps to flush out irritants and bacteria.Doctors generally recommend dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in one cup of water. If the salty taste is too unpleasant, try adding a little bit of honey. Just remember to spit the water out after gargling and don't swallow it!

Fluids: "Staying hydrated is very important, especially when you're sick and your throat is irritated or inflamed," Dr. Linder says. "You should be drinking enough fluid so that your urine is light yellow or clear. This keeps your mucous membranes moist and better able to combat bacteria and irritants like allergens, and makes your body better able to fight back against other cold symptoms."

Tea: If you are tired of drinking water, a warm cup of herbal tea can offer you some immediate and very soothing relief from your sore throat. Non-herbal teas—whether they're made with black, green, or white leaves—contain antioxidants that are thought to strengthen immunity and ward off infection.

 My husband has been living off of chamomile tea. He loves to add a big tablespoon of honey. It sweetens up the tea and also has antibacterial properties that may help you heal faster.

Chicken Soup: Chicken soup is an old remedy for a cold but it can also help soothe your throat. "The sodium in the broth may actually have anti-inflammatory properties, and it can feel good going down," Dr. Linder says.

Soup is also great when you are sick because sometimes eating is just painful. Your swollen, sore throat doesn't want to have to swallow anything. Sipping some liquid nourishment will soothe that throat and make sure you are getting the nutrients you need to fight off that infection.

Marshmallows: According to anecdotal reports, modern-day marshmallows can help ease sore throat pain, possibly because the gelatin coats and soothes. "It's not the wackiest thing in the world," Dr. Linder says. "If your throat is really swollen and it really hurts to swallow anything, I can see how something slippery and sweet like marshmallows might provide some relief."