Healthy Eating 101 EatingWell in Real Life Obsessed I Have COVID—Here Are 7 Things That Have Helped Me Feel a Little Better If you have COVID (or are making a care package for someone who does), make sure you stock up on these items. Bonus: you can order them all online. By Jaime Milan Jaime Milan Instagram Jaime Milan completed her undergraduate degree in journalism and English literature at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. After graduation, Jaime worked in local news and as a marketing manager for a national coffee and tea company. She also freelanced for several major publications before joining Cooking Light in 2017 as an associate editor. From 2019 until 2022, she was digital editor for EatingWell, where she found her passion for creating news and lifestyle content. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 13, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Target, Amazon This is Obsessed: my weekly column devoted to sharing all the things I'm loving right now—from unique food and gift ideas to travel destinations and beauty products—plus some tips and tricks for living your best life. I managed to dodge COVID for almost two years, but it finally caught up to me (despite my best efforts). Thankfully my side effects have been pretty mild, but it definitely has not been fun. I had a high fever and terrible chills for the first two days, and then my symptoms progressed to be more cold- or flu-like (think: sore throat, fatigue, aches, headache, runny nose). This is just my personal experience, and I'm definitely not a doctor, but there are a few things that have helped ease my symptoms and made me feel a little better (as always, speak to your doctor before trying anything new). If you don't have grocery delivery or a friend to drop these items on your doorstep, they're all available for purchase online and should arrive within a few days. Will Everyone Eventually Get COVID? Here's What Experts Say 7 Things That Have Helped My COVID-19 Symptoms 1. Tiger Balm I had random aches and pains for the first few days after I tested positive (mostly in my neck and back). I swear by this extra-strength Tiger Balm for instant relief. When you rub this balm on achy muscles or stiff joints, it warms up and immediately soothes the area. Plus, the camphor and menthol scent is really nice when you have a stuffy nose. Tiger Balm Ultra Strength Buy Now Amazon 2. Epsom Salt I wish I was exaggerating, but I took seven baths in the first two days I had COVID. My chills were so intense that I literally couldn't get warm, and baths were the only thing that helped. When you have a fever, you're not really *supposed* to take hot baths, so I kept mine on the warm side and added a handful of epsom salts for good measure. This really helped tame the chills and ease my muscles. Plus, taking baths helped me relax and sleep a little better. Solimo Epsom Salt Soaking Aid Buy Now Amazon 3. Over-the-Counter Medicine Since there's (unfortunately) no cure for COVID, managing the symptoms with over-the-counter meds is the next best thing if you've tested positive. Based on how I was feeling, I alternated between Dayquil, Nyquil, aspirin, cough drops and Vick's Vapor Rub (as always, talk to your doctor before taking anything). I found that these worked the best to help ease my symptoms. Vicks DayQuil & NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu Relief Liquicaps - Acetaminophen - 24ct Buy Now Target 4. Vitamins As soon as I tested positive for COVID, my doctor recommended that I take vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. While there's limited evidence that vitamins can shorten or ease the severity of COVID symptoms, they can help support healthy immune system function. Just make sure to choose supplements that have third-party certification to ensure their labels are accurate, since most supplements are unregulated (we have this handy scorecard to help you make an informed choice). Now Foods Vitamin C Buy Now Amazon 5. A Huge Water Bottle I've felt a little like a dried sponge this week, but a huge water bottle has been handy in helping me stay hydrated. I like this one-gallon water bottle because it makes it easy to track exactly how much I'm drinking throughout the day. 1 Gallon Water Bottle Buy Now Amazon 6. Popsicles, Soup and All the Carbs I love to cook, and I love veggies (I do work at EatingWell, after all!), but most of my energy to cook healthy meals went out the window as soon as I got sick. As much as I wish I could say that I craved immunity-supporting foods like kale salad and salmon, I really just wanted canned soup, simple carbs and popsicles. Are those things super nutritious? Not exactly. But they're easy, taste good and have helped me keep my energy up. Campbell's Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup - 10.75oz Buy Now Target 7. Throat Coat Tea My worst symptom so far has been a super sore throat (I've had plenty of colds and one awful bout of bronchitis, and I've never experienced a sore throat quite like this). I had no voice for the first few days, but this tea (along with a good amount of honey) has helped me so much. The warm liquid has helped to ease the pain and soothe my throat. Just make sure to talk to your doctor before trying if you have heart, kidney or blood pressure conditions, since this tea contains licorice. Traditional Medicinals Organic Throat Coat Herbal Tea Buy Now Target Jaime Milan is EatingWell's senior digital editor for all things newsy and trending. She's always on the hunt for the latest and greatest things to share with EatingWell's readers. In her spare time, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen, tackling home projects with her husband or taking pics of her very photogenic American Eskimo Dog, Grits. Follow her on Instagram at @jaimemmilan. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit