From spicy noodles to karaoke: All the unconventional ways to beat Freshers’ Flu

Since week two of uni your flatmate has been coughing like a Victorian chimney sweep. Lecture halls echo with sneezes, every shared kitchen is littered with tissue boxes and someone in your corridor is coughing loud enough to rattle the fire doors. Welcome to the rite of passage nobody warned you about: Freshers’ Flu.

Sure, the usual fixes are fine. More sleep, gallons of water, maybe a paracetamol. But chances are, if you’re reading this at this point in the semester, you’ve tried them all already without much luck. It’s time to turn to some more offbeat tricks to dodge another week spent buried under your duvet.

According to the NHS, flu symptoms include: body aches, tiredness, a sore throat, a dry cough, and headaches.

Self-care basics recommended by the NHS include:

● Rest and keep warm.

● Take paracetamol or ibuprofen.

● Drink plenty of fluids (pale yellow pee = hydrated).

● Stay home if unwell.

Sensible advice, but… boring, isn’t it? Which is why students have developed their own creative cures.

1. Turn up the heat: Spicy food

Where in Newcastle: Kimchi Planet (Newcastle University Students’ Union) or HiYoU Asian supermarket.

Spicy ramen is one Freshers’ Flu hack that actually clears your sinuses. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which can thin mucus and clear congestion. That fiery ramen might be doing more than just warming you up after a night out.

2. Laugh it off: Comedy nights

Where in Newcastle: The Stand Comedy Club or The Bridge Tavern for open mic nights.

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Laughter lowers stress hormones and boosts immune response so yes, comedy nights count as self-care. A night of stand-up with your mates could be better medicine than another Berocca.

3. Fermented friends: Yogurt and kimchi

Where in Newcastle: HiYoU Asian supermarket or your local Aldi

Fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, and kombucha are packed with probiotics that support your body’s defences. Even a budget supermarket yogurt pot could help your gut and immune system.

4. Sing it out: Karaoke as therapy

Where in Newcastle: Cosy Joes or Holy Hobo (duh).

Singing boosts immune markers in saliva and reduces stress. So your off-key Adele cover might actually be doing your body some good, though your audience may disagree.

5. Garlic power: The smelly secret weapon

Where in Newcastle: Head to Pizzeria Francesca to enjoy garlic bread out with friends (unless you fancy making it at home) or your local supermarket for fresh garlic.

Garlic has been linked in studies to fewer colds. It might not win you friends, but garlic might just help you fight Freshers’ Flu.

Mythbusting: What won’t work

● Antibiotics: Flu is viral, not bacterial.

● Vitamin C: This won’t prevent a cold, but may shorten it slightly.

● Lemsip: Although it does soothe symptoms, it isn’t a cure.

Freshers’ Flu feels almost unavoidable, too many new faces, late nights, and cheap pints in too little time. The basics still matter: rest, fluids, patience. But adding some quirky extras; spicy food, laughter, garlic, even karaoke might make recovery faster and definitely more fun.

So, if your Fresher’s Flu still seems unshakeable, don’t just stock up on tissues. Grab chili noodles, garlic bread, and a karaoke mic. Beating it might turn out to be one of the most unexpectedly fun parts of your first term.

Images via Pexels