AhhhhCHOOooo ! Around the time we start bundling up, accessorizing scarves and hats, and pumpkin spicing everything in sight, we also start to get the sniffles, the sneezes, the runnies. . . it’s cold season.

Don’t get us wrong – the peak moment of  a cold (that can’t breath through your nose – aching throat and tonsils – feeling like you were hit by a train moment) is probably not the moment you decide to ‘go natural.’ Stock up on our 5 favorite natural cold & flu remedies today – both prescriptive and preventative- and we won’t judge you for the occasional swig of nightquil – we promise.

1.  GARLIC. Don’t worry about your breath; hopefully you weren’t planning on close-talking or making out with the flu anyway. Chewing on raw garlic is a powerful remedy for cold and flu. As a preventative measure, garlic has crazy strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral and antibiotic properties. As treatment for a cold, it also provides decongestant and expectorant effect (read: hacking up phlem. Yum!).

2. GINGER. Ginger is packed with gingerols, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds which boost your immune system and keep germs at bay. Plus it’s delicious in tea and is a great digestive remedy for any flu-induced nausea.

3. (LACK OF) SUGAR & DAIRY. Sorry about this one; we know it’s tempting to go for comfort foods when you’re sick! Research suggests that eating foods that are high in sugar can actually depress your immune system, making your cold last longer. In many of us, dairy is a key contributor to mucus. No one needs MORE snot.

4. WATER (duh.) Stay hydrated. The mucous membranes in your nose and throat are better at collecting (and flushing away) a virus when they are moist. Drinking lots of water flushes toxins and allows better performance of all your bodily systems, making you a less hospitable place for that pesky virus to live.

5. SLEEP.  (double duh.) People who sleep less than 7 hours per night are 3x  more likely than those who sleep at least 8 hours to catch a cold after being exposed to virus. Sleep is prime-time for your body to fight infections and your immune system to work. So go to bed !!