Sunny Health

Researchers in Georgia recently published the results of their study which revealed that cough usually takes about three weeks to clear up. I thought that was odd that they did a study on it and only published it recently. For many of us who have caught the cold, it is no news to us that the hacking continues to torment us even after our colds and throat inflammations are gone. As the study rightly points out, getting additional or even stronger medication to clear the cough does not improve matters much, but only incurs more medical expenses and may have side effects. This is because antibiotics only affect bacteria, but has no effect on viruses, which are the main causes of coughs.

Coughs persist because your respiratory tract and the air passages in your lungs remain sensitive and inflamed even after your cold has gone away. This requires time to heal. In the meantime, let your body have ample rest and adopt certain habits to prevent the aggravation of your cough:

- Avoid cold water and gassy drinks. Drink lots of water, preferably warm water
- Avoid spicy food
- Ensure that your living environment is airy and has fresh air. Avoid air-conditioning and don’t expose yourself to cigarette smoke.
- In an air-conditioned room or in cold weather, wrap up warmly. Use scarves and turtle necks to protect your throat from the cold.
- Get more rest
- Wear a face mask to prevent the spread of the germs. You wouldn't want them coming back to you while you're still vulnerable!

Although coughs are stubborn, you can make your condition more manageable, and possibly eliminate the coughs quicker.

In cosmopolitan Singapore, we are fortunate to have access to a myriad of medications, including herbal and natural remedies, from different cultures. With increased faith in Traditional Chinese Medicine, more people are subscribing to a fusion of Western and Chinese treatments – get a quick cure for their inflammation with antibiotics, and then resort to Chinese medicine and herbal teas to get rid of the cough.

Pi Pa Gao and Hui Ji Herbal Mint Cough Syrup are tried and tested remedies for coughs. They exhibit no side effects, and they actually taste nice. Having a sweet and minty taste, they offer temporary reprieve for sore and irritated throats.

Warm green tea is a comfort beverage for coughs. Its detoxification qualities are already widely known. Adding honey to green tea will make the drink sweeter and smoother.

Is it all right to eat bananas when I’m coughing?

Bananas are nutritious, filling, delicious and convenient! It would be a bummer to have to abstain from bananas for three whole weeks while your cough goes away. The good news is, bananas do not cause or aggravate colds when consumed at night like the old wives’ tale suggests, or any time of the day in fact.

However, bananas do increase mucus and phlegm production, which could make you cough more when you are sick. If your cough is not very serious, you can still eat bananas, but down it with warm water or tea. In addition, it is not just bananas that increase phlegm production. Some fruits and vegetables like cabbage, potatoes and corn have a similar effect. Livestrong.com recommends celery, pickles, unsaturated oils, lemon, parsley, onion, garlic, watercress, horseradish, mustard and rose hips tea in your diet if you’re coughing.

Sources:

http://www.diethealthclub.com/askquestion/8056/banana-common-cold-is-it-true-that-if-you-eat-bana.html

http://www.healthywaymagazine.com/issue35/05_.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/496916-foods-that-encourage-phlegm/