Dr Hilary shares his tips and remedies to avoid a winter cold this season

If you’re sat next to someone sneezing and coughing in the office and praying you don’t catch a cold too then fear not, you’re not alone.

Colds are incredibly common during the winter season and it’s estimated that 27 million days are lost from work every year because of colds.

And TV’s Dr Hilary Jones is on hand to explain more, telling OK! magazine: “Cold viruses circulate all year round but when the temperatures fall, people tend to flock together in crowded rooms, and that increases the likelihood of germ transmission through coughs and sneezes.”

He adds: “A lack of sunlight too can cause vitamin D deficiency which reduces immunity, and diets tend to be less nutritious as people turn to more stodgy carbohydrates.”

And it turns out A-listers aren’t immune to catching colds – Ariana Grande recently had to cancel a concert as the result of a sore throat and Barbara Streisand tweeted: “Take a strong Vitamin C drink with some Manuka honey, and of course get some chicken soup!”

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So, which remedies are the way forward when it comes to combatting a Christmas cold?

Tumeric

Trusty turmeric will become your new best friend once a Christmas cold hits and Dr Hilary is a big fan.

He says: “Turmeric contains three types of antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used for centuries in Asian and Middle Eastern cultures for coughs, sinusitis and sore throats.

Vitamin supplements

Eating fruit and vegetables is oh, so important, but it turns out vitamin supplements can also be a dab hand at helping you too.

Premium multivitamins and multimineral supplements can help, as Dr Hilary says: “I recommend Ojamin Herb & Fruit supplement, which uses a combination of active ingredients, such as turmeric, but also other powerful antioxidants.”

Honey

The rumours are true, honey is an excellent source of antioxidants helped to relieve a cold.

Dr Hilary explains: “Genuine New Zealand manuka honey with a high ‘MGO number’ is proven to have antimicrobial activity and is recommended by NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) as a good self-help treatment for colds.”

Echinacea

This herb is a popular one when it comes to colds, said to boost immunity and reduce cold symptoms, but Dr Hilary is sceptical.

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Dr Hilary explains: “For years people have insisted that taking Echinacea, along with extra vitamin C, zinc, and garlic is the way forward. But there’s no evidence that they help reduce the severity or duration of a cold.”

Chicken soup

Could music legend Barbara Streisand be right with her suggestion of chicken soup?

Dr Hilary certainly seems to think so, agreeing that chicken soup will help hydrate you and get some nutrients into your body.

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He says: “Chicken soup has always come out favourably in research for treatment into the common cold perhaps for no other reason than it’s nutritious and comforting.”

As well as these various methods, other ways to combat a festive cold include getting plenty of sleep, taking warm baths before bed and avoiding excessive alcohol which can lead to dehydration.

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