Natural Remedies Debunked: At-Home Ways to Make Yourself Feel Better part 2 - women campus

Popcorn & Gatorade
The junk food pick-me-up that prevents fainting

If you're tired of hearing that eating habits in college contribute to getting sick or being out of shape (even though it's probably true…), this remedy is for you. To fight low blood pressure and faintness, which can result from not eating often enough, some collegiettes™ specifically eat popcorn and drink Gatorade. The rationale is that the sodium in salty popcorn helps elevate your blood pressure while trace amounts of sodium in Gatorade also prevent fainting, all while staying hydrated. When I was sick with the flu a doctor on campus recommended that I drink tons of Gatorade. Although I was completely sick of the sports drink by my second day of seclusion, I also started feeling a lot more clearheaded and alert. However, Connie Diekman attests that this might just be wishful.
 
Connie's take:
"There is no scientific evidence to support this [regimen]. Gatorade, like other recovery beverages, does provide sodium and potassium which could help rebalance fluids (thus impacting blood pressure) but evidence to indicate more than that is lacking."
 
Verdict:
Take it or leave it. Although the supposed abundance of electrolytes in Gatorade kept me from getting dehydrated (or so I like to think), there's little proof that popcorn and Gatorade are any more effective than smelling salts.
 
Salt & Vinegar
A salty-sour combo that helps clear the throat
One of the most annoying side effects of a cold is a sore throat. Even if you're sick enough to stay in bed for a day or two and wallow, talking to family and friends on the phone isn't worth it when it feels like nails are running down your throat. You might even find yourself alone in your dorm room getting stir-crazy and wanting to go to your 9AM lecture, just to speak to someone else. Nicole Lumbreras, an HC Campus Correspondent from the University of Iowa, also gets "crazy" when she starts to get sick. "If it's a sore throat I gargle with warm salt water every hour and I take a hot shower and sit there," she says. "I swear by it. The warm salt water is gross, but it works every time." Warming up a glass of water and mixing it with salt is a good first start, but I also recommend adding at least two teaspoons of vinegar. It tastes awful, but as long as you gargle every few hours (without swallowing) the momentary unpleasantness is worth the small comfort of talking with ease.
 
Connie's take:
"Salt water can moisten the membranes helping to relieve the pain," she explains. "But it doesn't eliminate the pain—it simply makes it feel better."
 
Verdict:
Gargle away. Don't expect the salty solution to permanently get rid of your sore throat, but do feel free to ease your discomfort by mixing a batch every hour or so.
 
Lemon & Lime
A citrus cleanse that improves digestion

Sometimes natural remedies aren't only good for overblown illnesses but are also just nice to add to a meal, especially if you haven't been eating as well as you might like. If those late college nights filled with pizza, coffee and sweets are starting to make you feel sluggish and preventing you from concentrating, try to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. "Something I like to keep in mind when I'm not feeling so great is my diet," says Melanie Yates, an HC Digital Media Associate from Hofstra. "As much as I might want comfort food, I try going for meals with simple, fresher ingredients. I avoid anything deep fried and/or covered in cheese because I usually feel even worse after I eat it." Melanie also squeezes lemon and lime into her beverages, which she claims is a simple trick with "wonderful health benefits, such as keeping skin clear and aiding digestion."
 
Connie's take:
"Maintaining an adequate intake of protein keeps the immune system healthy while fruits, vegetables and whole grains keep [your body's level of] vitamins and minerals adequate."
 
Verdict:
Eat up. Whether you're sick or not, eating well will help you feel like your best self. One way of knowing if you've covered multiple food groups is to see how colorful your meals are: chances are that if you've got enough reds, greens and yellows on your plate that you're on the right track.