Virus, Virus, Go Away!

I must apologize that I am slacking off just a bit lately. A few days before Easter, my little one caught a little bug-a virus, that is. I immediately started loading her up on my Go-To List of natural remedies...and a couple days later she was feeling great. Then I woke up with a nasty sore throat, so of course I too, reached for my Top Immunity Boosters.

I fought off the virus for a couple days, and all seemed just dandy. Ah, but a few days later...it was back with a vengeance! So, I had to change things up a bit. You see, sometimes even your most trusted regimen may not work against all illnesses. If one thing isn't working, you may want to switch it up. Thankfully, I have a lot of natural remedies to turn to. I loaded up on a few super-duper remedies, and within 24 hours, I am now feeling just on the verge of normal.

So add these to my list of favorites...and then add them to yours!

Garlic

Garlic has been used for centuries and is proven to suport the immune and cardiovascular systems. I often cook with garlic, and incorporate it raw into sauces and salad dressings. If you really want to boost your immunity, especially while fighting off those nasty viruses, a little garlic just won't cut it. Unless you want to smell like an Italian kitchen, concentrated garlic tablets are the way to go. I recently found Garlic Factors by Natural Factors. It is a highly concentrated dose of garlic, odor controlled, and enteric coated (which means it will only release in your stomach, and not on it's way down). After taking just one dose, I immediately saw improvement. Keep this one handy at all times!

Olive Leaf Extract

Olive leaf extract has been getting a lot of attention lately. Many natural lifestyle followers have been swearing by it for years. "Medical use of olive leavesdates back to ancient Egypt and is referenced by Hippocrates and now in modern medical texts. Olive leaf is used around the world as a health tonic and powerful antioxidant." It supports a healthy immune system, healthy blood pressure, healthy cardiovascular system, and healthy joints. And it boasts more antioxidant power than Vitamin C, Grape Seed Extract, Vitamin E, Green Tea, and many others. You can buy it in the pill form, but I highly recommend Barlean's Olive Leaf Complex. Barlean's Organic Oils is a trusted source of superb natural products.

Colloidal Silver

Another great immune support getting lots of attention in the health industry. The most popular brand and the only choice for me is Sovereign Silver. It has no odor, almost no flavor, is easily absorbed, and is a safe and effective way to boost immunity. You might be wondering a bit about this one...silver? For more information on how it works, visit www.soverignsilver.info.

UMKA

Once you are sick, boosting your immunity is very important, but it is also nice to have a natural product to sooth those uncomfortable cold symptoms. The sore throat, the cough, congestion, etc. I recently tried Umka Cold Care, by Nature's Way, and I am impressed. Umka is made from Pelagonium sidoides roots and has its origins in traditional Southern African folk medicine. A leading remedy in Europe, Umka works differently than other over-the-counter cold medicines. It doesn't just mask symptoms. It shortens the duration and speeds recovery. And the best part? It is all natural, sugar-free, and absolutely safe for kids.

Being sick is no fun. When you feel the symptoms of an illness coming on, be sure to get lots of rest, hydrate, and boost your immunity. If a sore throat persists, it may be a sign of infection, and you should seek proper medical attention. Always consult a physician or holistic health practitioner before something new and especially before giving it to a child.

Here's to kicking that virus, and here's to your health!

Give Yourself a Boost

When you have little ones, it seems like every season is cold and flu season. Kids touch all kinds of stuff and stick their fingers in their noses, rub their eyes, or worse, put their hands in their mouths. We cannot always be there to insist they wash their hands or remind them to "STOP IT" with the nose picking and such. That is why I have an arsenal of immune boosters and defense in my cupboard. Here are a few items I keep on hand year round.

Vitamin C Powder-Many vitamins contain vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid. This is a synthetic Vitamin C that can actually deplete the body and possibly cause DNA/RNA damage. Research shows that people with chronic degenerative diseases have low levels of Vitamin C in their blood throughout the day. It also shows strong levels of C in individuals with little signs of degeneration. Health Force Nutritionals Truly Natural Vitamin C is a whole-food C made from Acerola Cherries. It is pure, high potency, giving your body the full benefits of Vitamin C to ward off illness. I used to get cold sores from time to time during times of stress or when I travelled. Since starting a daily dose of this powerful Vitamin C powder, the cold sores have disappeared and my immune system is strong.

Immunity Take Care by NewChapter-these highly concentrated elderberry lozenges are like no other elderberry source I've found. Elderberry is naturally anti-viral. This special formulation of the full-spectrum of the elderberry herb have been proven in the lab, to keep viruses from proliferating and mutating in the body. I always keep these in stock. We take them regularly during flu season and any time one of us has symptoms of coming down with a bug. If I get even a hint of a sore throat, I immediately begin taking these twice daily. I cannot tell you how many times I have felt something coming on, and had symptoms disappear after a couple days of taking these lozenges. They really work! And they are yummy too!!

Mushroom extracts-We use a liquid supplement called Myco-Immune by Thorne Research. We started using this years ago when our chiropractor recommended it. Who would have thought to use fungi to kill viruses! Actually, there has been extensive research lately that shows just how powerful these mushroom extracts are. Now, I am not going to lie and say that this tastes great. My husband has deemed it "shot of nastiness". It has a bit of a strong flavor. But we are more than willing to endure the yucky taste for a few seconds, given the amazing results. When symptoms of an illness arise, this is another one we immediately reach for. Just a few drops a couple times a day is all it takes!

So there you have it-my top three picks for cold and flu season. I never travel without them! Obviously, it is important to eat well, exercise, and get good rest to help keep your immune system going strong. With our busy lives and the millions of germs out there waiting, we can all use a little boost. Keep these three ready to go and you'll be prepared. Always consult your doctor before giving new supplements to little ones. Our daughter takes all of these in smaller doses. Stay tuned for more immunity tips. Here's to your health!

*Find all of these supplements and more in my Amazon store!