10 products we swear by for combatting end-of-season colds

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10 products we swear by for combatting end-of-season colds

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  • End-of-season colds are at a yearly high right now thanks to fluctuating temperatures that provide a breeding ground for viruses.
  • Since quite a few people around the office seemed to be succumbing to sore throats, coughs, and stuffy noses, I asked everyone for their go-to products and remedies used to treat and prevent common colds.
  • I rounded up everyone's responses, which include a variety of natural products and cult-favorite solutions - most of which you can get on Amazon.

Here in New York, we're approaching that time of year when the sun is coming out a little more and the weather seems to be all over the place.

And with unpredictable weather comes unpredictable work attendance due to pesky coughs, sore throats, or never-ending runny noses.

According to The Weather Channel, two agents that typically cause the common cold, rhinoviruses and cornoaviruses, tend to thrive in weather that is cool but not too frigid - making you susceptible to running into one of these nasty ailments right about now.

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Nearly every day this week, one of my team members has been out of the office due to the end-of-season cold, which posed the perfect opportunity to ask them just how they combat their sicknesses. The Insider Picks team shared some products that they regularly use and I compiled them below, so hopefully you won't end up in their shoes.

Take a look at 10 of the most helpful products we use to treat and prevent end-of-season colds.

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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.

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A vitamin C drink mix for boosted immune function

A vitamin C drink mix for boosted immune function
Emergen-C Super Orange Drink Mix, $16.97, Available at Amazon

Emergen-C is something I use to build up my immune system with antioxidants like vitamin C. I find this is best used before you feel a cold coming on, but I've also used it throughout the cycle of a cold to lessen its effects. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

Vitamins with raw zinc for health and recovery

Vitamins with raw zinc for health and recovery
Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Zinc, $9.30 (Originally $9.79), Available on Amazon

My strategy is multi-pronged, but I very rarely get sick. The moment I feel like I am getting sick, I make sure to take my daily multivitamin more consistently and I take this zinc supplement. It provides immune system support and includes enzymes that work to promote eye heath and skin health. — Grace High, Insider Picks analyst

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Sea salt for an irritated throat

Sea salt for an irritated throat
Redmond Ancient Fine Sea Salt, $8.99, Available on Amazon

Whenever I feel a little weak in the throat, the first thing I do is gargle with some saltwater. You can get sea water online — I'm not sure why — but I find that some of this sea salt works just fine. — Owen Burke, Insider Picks senior reporter

Manuka honey to mix with lemon water

Manuka honey to mix with lemon water
Steens NZ Beekeeper Manuka Honey, $37.04 (Originally $38.99), Available on Amazon

I like to drink hot water with lemon juice a dash of raw manuka honey. According to scientific research, it has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and also fights inflammation. — Grace High, Insider Picks analyst

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Some cayenne for clearing your head

Some cayenne for clearing your head
365 Everyday Value Organic Cayenne Pepper, $3.99, Available on Amazon

After making my tea mixed with lemon and honey, I sometimes like to add a bit of cayenne pepper. It works to clear my sinuses when I'm beginning to feel sick. — Grace High, Insider Picks analyst

A syrup for cough and soreness relief

A syrup for cough and soreness relief
Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa Sore Throat Syrup, $12.86, Available on Amazon

This traditional Chinese cough syrup, omnipresent in my house while growing up, provides natural relief for coughs and sore throats — and tastes really good, too. Take a couple spoonfuls of this thick syrup, which is made from natural, herbal ingredients, and you’ll be relieved from scratchiness and pain very quickly. While it’s a long-used product among Chinese communities, it recently exploded in popularity in New York City, even prompting a Wall Street Journal write-up. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

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An immune support supplement to drop in your drink

An immune support supplement to drop in your drink
Airborne Immune Support Supplement, $9.99, Available on Amazon

I had originally heard of these as a way to boost your immune system before travelling, as flights can be a hotbed for germs, making them an easy place to get sick. I take these tablets when I feel a cold coming on, or am in the midst of one — which happens frequently in the winter.

Vitamin C is commonly touted as a natural way to treat and prevent colds, and just one airborne tablet has 1,000 mgs of it. Plus, there are lots of other vitamins and antioxidants, like Vitamin A, as well as zinc, selenium, and manganese. You just pop one of these tablets in a glass of water and drink it as you would normally. Whether it’s totally legit or more of a placebo effect, I feel these work for me — at the very least, anything that makes you drink an extra glass of water can’t be bad. . — Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter

Apple cider vinegar to treat your sore throat

Apple cider vinegar to treat your sore throat
Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, $12, Available at Amazon

People use apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for many ills, but I find it used best for sore throats. If my throat is particularly sore, I’ll gargle with some of this to soothe it quickly. I also like to add a splash of apple cider vinegar to hot water with lemon, honey, and ginger (if I have it on hand, though I usually don’t) for a soothing drink.

Apple cider vinegar is said to have antibacterial properties, which can help soothe your throat and kill any bacteria that may be causing issues. It definitely doesn’t taste great, but I’ve found it does the job well.— Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter

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An herbal supplement to combat early signs of a cold

An herbal supplement to combat early signs of a cold
Ocho Cold Snap, $9.99, Available on Amazon

A few years ago, I was babysitting for a family friend who recommended this product when I told her I felt the onset of a cold. She had relied on it for years and said that it worked like a charm when it came to defending against any sort of cough, runny nose, or fever.

I followed her advice to mix it into my water, and within a few hours, felt the luring cold symptoms disappear pretty quickly. Since then I have continuously used during cold and flu season and it honestly feels like it does the trick.

The bottle label says it’s an herbal remedy that supports and strengthens your immune system — with over 20 herbs included, I don’t doubt my immune system has grown tougher. Some say it’s the placebo effect working its magic, but I’m a firm believer that a couple doses a day of this stuff will protect me from just about anything. — Megan Foster, Insider Picks intern

Some vitamin C chewable tablets for an immune system pick-me-up

Some vitamin C chewable tablets for an immune system pick-me-up
Nature Made Chewable Vitamin C Tablets, $23.73 (Originally $24.98), Available at Target

It's hard to gauge exactly when, where, and how we feel the effects of vitamin C, but one thing I've noticed is that the chewable tablets alleviate any scratchiness I might be feeling in my throat on their way down. It's a palpable sensation that pills don't offer. These ones by Nature Made seem to do the trick for me, and if they don't wipe out an infection altogether, they at least provide some acute (if fleeting) relief, which, in the throes of a bad cold, I'll always welcome. — Owen Burke, Insider Picks senior reporter

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