It’s that time of year again when everyone you know (including yourself) is hurting, COVID or flu at one point. And while it is now FDA approved testing to tell you if you have COVID or the flu, you need to deal with the symptoms. There are ways to make sore throat, stuffy nose, cold, fever, cough and other symptoms more manageable.

CNET’s health editors have rounded up our cold and flu season hacks we use to avoid getting sick as much as we can. In addition to our tips, we recommend products we like and links to more information on why these hacks might work.

Detox Tea

“Whenever I feel a cold coming on, I always make this detox tea drink. The recipe includes pure cranberry juicea lemon and organic dandelion tea. I take a gallon glass or a very large mason jar and fill it with hot water. Then, I deviated from both dandelion tea bags within 10 to 15 minutes. Next, I add the juice of one lemon and half a cup of pure cranberry juice. This drink is very bitter, so I suggest adding honey.

In addition to three healthy meals throughout the day, I try to finish as many tea drinks as possible. It really helps to flush everything out and keep me hydrated. Plus, drinking it while it’s hot soothes my throat. Pure cranberry juice and dandelion tea high in antioxidants and Lemons contain vitamin C.” – Caroline Igo, sleep editor

Zinc

“During cold and flu season, I try to take it zinc always since some Studies show that it can shorten a cold in a day or two. That argument is up for debate, but I find when I take it, I stay healthy during cold and flu season. I also focus on maintaining a diet high in antioxidants support my immune systemto make it a combination of things.” – Giselle Castro-Sloboda, health writer

Echinacea

“I’ll take it echinacea supplements when i got sick because of what seems to be mixed and inconclusive evidence that it helps you feel better faster and may have some immune-boosting properties.” – Jessica Rendall, health writer

Turmeric

“I love turmeric lattes and teas when I’m not feeling well. Known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is said to benefit those dealing with allergies and infections. It is also connected to anxiety reliefwhich is something I feel especially when I’m sick. Anyway, hot drinks are known relieve symptoms of flu and common coldand I really feel these benefits in my favorite turmeric drinks.

As I tried to make my own turmeric latte, I preferred the taste of Golden SuperLatte from Clevr Blends, which includes probiotics, mushrooms and adaptogens. For a cheaper option, I like it too Yogi Tea’s Honey Chai Turmeric Vitality tea with a little extra honey (and sometimes lemon). Note that both drinks contain black pepper, which may increase your body’s ability to absorb curcumin, the beneficial compound in turmeric.” – Anna Gragert, health editor

Elderberry

“Although more research is needed to fully understand the whole effect of elderberry in treating or preventing a cold or the flu, it’s a supplement which you always see in my medicine cabinet. I take it daily and find that I have less pain than when I didn’t take it. I tried it in all its forms — gummies, syrup, tablets and capsules. Gummies are definitely the tastiest, but they always have a lot of added sugar, so I just stick to the capsules. This, combined with good sleep, exercise and washing your hands often, is what I do during cold and flu season.” – Nasha Addarich Martínez, managing editor

Focus on throat care with tea, honey and more

“When I have a cold, I like to brew fresh ginger tea and add honey to it. For sore throats and sore throats, I gargle with salt and warm waterbut I also clothed my throat with a concoction of warmed-up honey and lime juice (some people also use lemon). It tastes like a homemade medicinal syrup and soothes the throat at the same time. ” – Giselle Castro-Sloboda, wellness writer

Hot water, honey, apple cider vinegar and hot toddies

“When I get sick during the winter, it’s usually with a sore throat or strep. A few cough drops sometimes seem to make my throat sore and sore once the brief, temporary relief they provide wears off. honey (preferably locally bought honey). apple cider vinegar. Another is a hot toddy at night, usually two hours before bed.

Variations of hot toddy are used as a cold and cough remedy hundreds of years. The recipe usually includes hot water, whiskey, honey and lemon, often garnished with a cinnamon stick. Of course, adding whiskey is completely optional, and you can still feel the soothing benefits of this drink without it. In addition to washing my hands regularly, I spend as much time outside as possible during the winter. Getting some fresh air and sunlight — even in the colder months — seems to help boost my immune system (and my mood).” – Aly Lopez, sleep writer

Optimize your sleep

“Sleep is a important part of recovery from the flu. That said, it can be very difficult to sleep when you’re sick, especially if you have a runny nose or a constant cough. To overcome this, I always sleep is strengthened when I got sick. It might sound a little wacky, but it helps make sure I can breathe and get enough sleep to allow my body to rest and heal as quickly as possible. There are special pillows for this, though I like to stack what I need to save money. ” – Taylor Leamey, sleep writer

VapoRub

“For congestion and cough, I rely Vicks VapoRub and rub some on my chest (note that you do not put it in or around your nose). This is a temporary fix that helps clear up my sinuses quickly. And now that I’m dealing with a toddler, I find that steam baths help with a stuffy nose, followed by cleaning it with a nasal aspirator.” – Giselle Castro-Sloboda, health writer

steam

“Whenever I get sick, it tends to cause congestion in my upper respiratory tract. To help clear my sinuses and make blowing my nose easier, my go-to is a steamy shower since Steam inhalation has been shown to relieve cold symptoms. To avoid the hot water scalding my skin, I always leave the showerhead away from my body for a few minutes while I breathe deeply to inhale the steam. ” – Anna Gragert, health editor

Pay attention to your body’s signals

“Over time, I learned that when my body is exhausted and becomes “down” with something, ie, fighting an infection or disease, the skin on my back becomes more sensitive. In this, the my temperature may also rise slightly from my baseline, although it is not high enough to be considered a fever This is my cue to slow down, eat more fruits and vegetables and sleep early to give my immune system successfully. Fighting anything. I know not everyone has this specific quirk, but I think paying attention to the signs your own body may be hurting, and adjusting to it, is beneficial. .” – Jessica Rendall, health writer