How to stay Healthy during the Cold and Flu Season?

With Cold and Flu Season now upon us everyone is trying to stay healthy. I have to say our crazy temperatures down here in the south don't help. We can have 70 one day and 40 degrees the next. That's when people start getting sick. I always try to make sure we boost our immune systems during this time of year.

Here are a few tips on how to help support a healthy immune system when you need it most.

Zinc is a important mineral that supports immune health. If taken before the first signs of a cold or flu it may reduce your chances of getting stuck inside with the sniffles.

Echinacea purpurea is a powerful herb that can help reduce the risk of catching a cold or flu when taken regularly during cold and flu season. Try taking echinacea for a few weeks then take a week off and start it back up again. Add vitamin C and zinc to the mix and you got a triple threat against colds and flus. Also, if taken at the first signs of a cold will reduce the duration of the symptoms.

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps your body fight free radicals and helps support a healthy immune system. I got some vitamin C chews from Genesis Today and they are great to give your kids. Especially if they can't swallow.

 

Boost your intake of B-complex vitamins. These vitamins not only help reduce stress which can wreak havoc on your immune system, B-vitamins actually help support healthy immune function. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) enhances your body's immune response and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) helps build your body's antibodies to fight infection.

Take a steamy shower, or hold your head above a steaming pot of water to relieve congestion. Steam is soothing and helps open up blocked sinuses so you can breathe a little easier. For a more therapeutic steam add a little eucalyptus or tea tree oil to a boiling pot of water and breathe in every 1-2 minutes for about 10 minutes. The essential oils with the steam will hep your body discharge all the mucus, in your nose, lungs and throat. You'll be amazed at what comes out of you.

Garlic is a natural antiviral and contains a potent compound called allicin. Garlic helps fight viruses by destroying the virus cells before it enters your body. So if you want to fight a cold or flu, load up on garlic. Raw garlic is best, but cooked garlic has less of a offensive odor if you consume a lot of it.

I do a lot of natural remedies in my house to keep my family healthy. I could go on and on. But I just wanted to share a couple tips that might help you!

*I received Genesis Today Products to write this post and no other monetary compensation was received for my opinion.*