A cold or the flu is often a tiring, aggravating experience. But the next time you're suffering from one, remember this: allowing your body to rest while allowing the cold or flu to run its course is actually good for your long term health.

Conventional medicine and the pharmaceutical industry would like you to believe there is no "cure" for the common cold, that you should protect yourself from the flu with vaccines laden with toxic chemicals, and that it is favorable to ease symptoms with a variety of medications.

However, all three of these positions lack an understanding of what colds and flus really are, and what they mean for your body.

Since viruses have no natural way to duplicate themselves, they rely on our body's cells to produce copies of themselves. Once the infected cell has performed its function in allowing the virus to reproduce, it dies. But, the viruses that cause the cold and flu infect mainly your weakest cells - cells that are already burdened with excessive waste and toxins. Your body needs these cells to be replaced anyway, by new healthy cells. So a flu or cold is a natural way for the body to purge itself of old and damaged cells - that would take longer to eliminate in the absence of a viral infection.

As long as you get plenty of rest and stay hydrated and nourished during a cold or flu, there is no need to get vaccinated or take medications that suppress congested sinuses, a fever, or coughing. All of these uncomfortable symptoms are actually ways in which your body works to eliminate waste products.

However, it's important to note that just because colds and flus can be helpful to your body, doesn't mean they're necessary for good health. If you take care of your immune system through getting sufficient rest and making healthy nutritional and lifestyle choices, your cells may be strong enough to avoid getting infected by viruses.

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