10 Ways To Beat The Common Cold

In the grand scheme of things, the common cold really isn't that bad at all. That being said, there's nothing more grim on a cold, grey day to be sneezing and coughing rather than enjoying the toasty, cosy winter we all dream of.

Having a cold might not warrant a trip to your GP, but it can throw you off your game. Spread by day-to-day contact with other infected people (hand shakes, cheek kisses, etc), there might not be a cure for the cold, but there are plenty of things you can do to try and stave one off.

Firstly, before you dive head-first into the oranges, zinc has been proven to be pretty good at fending off a cold, and in some cases, better than Vitamin C. Even the NHS agrees - in some clinicial trials, taking zinc has shorted the length of a cold.

On top of that, keeping your hands scrupulously clean to ward off germs, plus upping your intake of Vitamin C-rich fruit and veg, and clocking up lots of sleep can help your body stay fighting fit.

We can't promise anything in the way of a picture-perfect winter scene, but we can point you in the direction of some products and tips to help boost your immune system and tell that cold who's boss.

There are some other home remedies that work a treat, too. Try some of the below...

Simply place around 150g of epsom salts in hot water, with a few drops of your favourite essential oils. Eucalyptus and peppermint work really well, as does lavender. You can either do this using a quarter of the measurements and simply hold your face over the hot bowl and inhale, or use the full amounts and put into a warm bath. Breathe deep and feel those sinuses open up!

No, it's not glamorous, but it does work. Make a habit of gargling around a teaspoon of salt dissolved in water every morning to banish a sore throat. The antiseptic salt will help remove infection from your throat - you can do this up to two or three times a day.

This is delicious as well as restorative. A compound found in ginger called gingerol is great for healing - it helps relieve congestion in a couple of ways. First, it reduces inflammation of the mucous membranes that line your nasal passages and your sinus cavity. When the swelling goes down, you don't feel so blocked up. Then there's the fiery nature of the tea, which helps loosen up phlegm (sorry).

Plus, extra fluids never hurt when you're sick and breathing in steam vapour from the tea can help relieve congestion. Simply add some sliced ginger to hot water and sip away - add a squeeze of honey if your throat could use some extra TLC.

Whip up a home version of Vicks Vapo Rub by blending coconut oil with a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Add the oil to a few tablespoons of melted oil and allow to cool, then rub liberally onto your chest. Aaah...

Click through the gallery to see what supplements to take, drinks to sip and habits to get into to have an (almost) sniffle-free winter...