I have a helpful tip for you to reduce how often you get sick in winter using safe, well-tolerated, "natural" remedies. This is the worst flu season in 25 years thanks to recent mutations, so buckle up.[e]
Everybody knows that the primary ways to avoid getting contagious illnesses propagated via air like COVID-19 and Flu are to avoid people and mask. Unfortunately, these strategies come with significant downsides and so most people in most situations choose not to utilize them. Handwashing also reduces illness risk with little downside, but does nothing to protect you from the primary means of covid transmission: air.
But if you want to reduce your risk further, consider getting some Iota-Carrageenan nasal spray. Research on it is limited but promising. Several studies have shown that it both reduces your chance of getting sick in the first place [d] and, at least in the case of common cold, reduces the length of your symptoms [b]. It also kills COVID-19 in petri dishes/solutions because it provides an inhospitable environment [a]. More studies and replication need to be done to really drill down and verify these protections, but given these nasal sprays are cheap, have limited to no side effects, and are widely considered safe, I personally use them.
In one study among medical staff treating COVID-19 patients, this simple nasal spray gave a 78% reduction in relative risk of infection [D]. This may be due to a combination of mechanical (blocking/covering of vulnerable cells from the air) and chemical factors. Other nasal sprays have shown similar results such as antihistamine sprays, which are speculated to rely more on chemical reactions (binding of the histamine receptor, therefore preventing COVID-19 from binding to it). Iota-Carrageenan is a natural product made from seaweed.
Funding for this kind of research is limited because there is no investment potential for pharmaceutical companies (not a patentable drug) and government funding for this kind of research has dried up.
The spray itself has a very mild burning sensation, if you'd taken a nasal spray for allergies before then you know what that feels like. It's similar to taking a deep breath after opening a bottle of some isopropyl alcohol or vinegar. It lasts a few seconds and then disappears completely and is really minor. #covid19 #wellness #health #flu
Sources:
A. https://www.mdpi.com/1661-3821/3/3/25
B. 
D.
E. 
PubMed
Efficacy of a carrageenan nasal spray in patients with common cold: a randomized controlled trial - PubMed
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN80148028.
PubMed
Efficacy of a Nasal Spray Containing Iota-Carrageenan in the Postexposure Prophylaxis of COVID-19 in Hospital Personnel Dedicated to Patients Care with COVID-19 Disease - PubMed
NCT04521322.
WebMD
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