Body & Mind

Flu myths and how to really get rid of them

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You thought you would skip it this year. You ate your vegetables, dutifully swallowed your supplements, and walked around with a scarf as if you just came out of a bad Christmas movie. And yet: here it is. The flu. With a killer cough, a nose that behaves like an open tap, and a headache that feels like someone is walking through your skull in high heels. Your search history suddenly consists of: ‘how long does the flu last‘, ’can you exercise with the flu’, and ’does ginger tea really work‘. Because besides viruses, there are also a lot of myths floating around. Time to go through them and especially: what actually helps?
Zaar Goedemans with headphones takes a selfie

  1. Chicken soup

    When you're dying on the couch and can't get anything down your throat (and it stays there), that chicken soup from grandma is the only thing you crave. That salty bowl full of vegetables is the dream that pulls you through the nightmare. But chicken soup doesn't cure you. The virus doesn't disappear faster because of it. What it does do is help your body stay hydrated and give you something nutritious without your stomach protesting. So: not a miracle cure, but slurping is always allowed.

  2. Ginger tea with honey

    Ginger tea with honey is the wellness answer to a sore throat. It feels like you're doing something good. The ginger tingles, the honey soothes, and you feel like you're actively healing. Only there is no evidence that it makes you better faster. The virus doesn't think: oh wait, ginger, I'm out of here. The same applies here that it's not the solution, but if you enjoy it, you should just drink your mug empty.

  3. Vitamin C tablets

    Vitamin C has a PR team that many celebrities would be jealous of. It sounds logical: resistance, immune system, pop a pill and done. Only it doesn't work that way when you're already lying in bed with a red nose. Vitamin C can play a role in your overall resistance, but if you already have a fever, it's not a fast forward button. Unfortunately.

  4. Bending over a steaming pot

    The classic sick-person image: you, a steaming pot, a tea towel over your head, and hope. Steaming can provide temporary relief. Your mucus becomes looser and your nose feels a bit less congested. But in the long run, it does little for your recovery. In fact: steaming too hot can irritate your mucous membranes and, if used incorrectly, even lead to burns.

  5. Cough syrup

    Cough syrup is found among the medicines, promises everything, and often costs just enough to think it should work. But most cough syrups do little more than temporarily soothe your throat. And that's often not due to magical herbs, but simply because of sugar or a syrupy substance that provides a protective layer. Handy for falling asleep, but this won't help you get rid of the flu.

So what actually helps??

Here comes the least fabulous advice ever: rest. Not “I'm working from bed” rest. Not “I'm only doing the essentials” rest. Real rest. Your body is working overtime to clear that virus, and every errand, meeting, or household task is extra strain. We are champions of pushing through. Even being sick, we do productively. But the flu is unfortunately not a mindset problem. So let the laundry sit. Maybe order food. Cancel appointments without guilt. Your body is asking for a break. And drink. A lot of drinking. Water, tea, broth, whatever you can get down. Fever, sweating, and a runny nose pull moisture from your body, making recovery slower.