Best Supplements for Colds

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Explore our trusted selection of cold related supplements from our online store or talk with the team at one of our retail outlets.

We’ve been lucky so far this winter weather-wise but health-wise a lot of people have been hit with colds and coughs. And in our retail stores, many customers have been looking for remedies to relieve their symptoms. If you haven’t been hit by a cold yet, you might find this article on how to strengthen your immune system useful. But if you are worried, here’s a quick guide on what you need to know about the common cold and what you can do if you or members of your family catch one. Let’s start with the basics…

What is the common cold?

Colds are caused by viruses and there are lots of different types of viruses that cause people to suffer from the symptoms of a cold. These typically include a sore throat and blocked or runny nose.

 

 

What are the main reasons for getting a cold?

It’s easy to catch a cold, usually through germs that are spread either in the air through coughs and sneezing or by hand contact. So having contact with someone who has a cold can put you at risk of picking up the virus. Of course, it’s not always easy or practical to avoid people with colds! But good hand hygiene (regular and thorough washing with soap) and good ventilation can reduce the risk of being infected.

If you do have a cold, it will probably last about a week and you can spread the virus throughout that time. So, coughing into tissues and avoiding getting the germs on your hands will help you to minimise the risk to others. Also remember to bin used tissues quickly. Essentially follow all the good practices we were taught about during Covid to help minimise the spread of infection.

 

 

What are the commonly used remedies for a cold?

 There’s no definitive treatment for a cold but there’s plenty of health supplements and treatments out there designed to help relieve the symptoms. But first, take things easy and rest up at home – it’s not the time to put your body under extra stress with heavy duty exercise or late nights working. Drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated and get as much sleep as you can.

If your throat is sore, throw a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and gargle it – this can help to reduce any swelling and ease the pain. In case you are wondering if you need an antibiotic, as a cold is caused by a virus – and not bacteria – antibiotics have no effect in terms of treating a cold.

Give yourself time to recover – remember it usually is only a week or so for a cold to pass. The HSE recommends using paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve any pain. You might also want to try some of the many natural supplements and products offered by leading brands. While some are designed to help you avoid getting a cold, others help with the symptoms.

 

What are the best supplements for colds?

There’s no definitive medical evidence yet for many of the treatments used for colds yet anecdotally and globally there is significant support for certain supplements that people have found useful. Here’s some of the most popular ones that are in demand through our stores….

 

Vitamin D Supplements

Known as the sunshine vitamin, many Irish people use Vitamin D in the winter, when sunlight is limited. You can learn more about it on our recent blog, Have You Tried Vitamin D?. Some people use Vitamin D to help prevent and treat colds, as it is essential for the normal functioning of the immune system. leading brands Solgar and Viridian both offer Vitamin D supplements such as the Solgar Vitamin D3 2200IU Capsules

 

 

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Immunity Support

Many of our customers are keen to strengthen their immunity to avoid getting a cold in the first place. Solgars’ Beta Glucans Immune Complex is very popular.

 

Natures Plus also has several products which have a comprehensive Immune Range so you can choose the supplement that best suits your own preferences. These include;

The Immune Zink Lozenges

Immune support 60 tablets

Immune mushroom capsules

Immune probiotic capsules

Immune Vitamin C chewable tablets

Finally, Udos Choice has a micro-biotic Super 8 capsules which heavily in demand too.

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Other Popular Choices

There’s a whole range of other options that Health Matters carries both online and instore. Here’s a few to check out:

Solgar – Beta Glucans Immune Complex, Ester

Viridian – Elderberry Syrup, Extra C

Pukka Andrographis

Terra Nova Astragalus and Garlic

Sambucol Elderberry

And here’s a special mention for one of the oldest remedies in the medicine cupboard of many homes, Olbas Oil, a mixture of pure plant oils that relieves bronchial and nasal congestion.

 

Conclusion

Most colds will pass quickly and while they might put you off your stride a little, a lot of people can continue to function and keep up with their usual daily routine. If your symptoms are irritating, as you can see there’s a whole range of treatments and health supplements that can help.

But if symptoms get worse or continue for more than a few weeks, and you feel that you are not recovering, don’t hesitate to go to your GP. If you have self-diagnosed a cold but develop new symptoms or a fever, you could have a different type of illness that needs medical treatment.

 

 

 

Company Details

Health Matters.ie is operated by Sayerscourt (Grafton Street) Limited trading as Health Matters.Sayerscourt (Grafton Street) Limited is registered in Ireland. Company number: 388121h