Viral Syndrome: Treatment, Diet and Home Remedies

Food and Nutrition

• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during a viral illness.
• Diet lush in fruits and vegetables can help prevent a variety of infections and diseases, including the common cold. Fruits and vegetables particularly known for immune system benefits include cherries, berries, tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit, citrus juices, bananas, broccoli, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables most often as they tend to provide the most nutrient content.
• Consume home-made or natural soups incorporated with various vegetables to reduce or prevent viral infections that involve swelling and congestion.
• To reduce or prevent digestive symptoms that occurs due to viral infection, incorporate a variety of probiotic food sources into your diet regularly. Valuable sources of probiotics include yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, fermented soy products, sauerkraut and pickles.
• Eating foods that are high in vitamin A can help you improve your immunity which in turn will help protect you from viral infections. Foods high in vitamin A are sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, pumpkin, and other dark yellow and orange fruits.

• Spicy or greasy foods
• Junk food
• Carbonated drinks
• Ice creams
• Alcohol
• Oily and high cholesterol foods

Home Remedies

• Rest at home for first 2-3days
• Avoid dehydration by drinking 8-12 eight-ounce glasses of fluids per day. This may include water, orange juice and lemonade, apple, grape and cranberry juice, clear fruit drinks, electrolyte replacement and sports drinks, decaffeinated teas and coffee.
• Try over-the-counter analgesics to ease pain and fever
• Use humidifiers and vapor rub to improve congestion