The dreaded cold and flu season has officially arrived, and to be honest these viruses took on an entirely different meaning when we became parents. The tears, doctor’s visits, and the sleepless nights are enough to make me want to crawl into bed and hibernate all winter. But, instead…I decided to do some intense research two years ago on ways we can try and limit the length and intensity of these viruses.
All of the products listed here are stocked in our house at all times and I wanted to share this information with you all because I LIVE and SWEAR by them when we are sick. I have noticed such a change in the duration and length of cold and flu symptoms since starting this ‘regime’, and I think it’s well worth purchasing and trying them out for yourself!
Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical doctor! Do your own research and speak to your health care practitioner prior to starting any supplement regime if necessary. This blog post is solely based on my own personal experience!
1. Products for Prevention
Obviously using products that help prevent you from getting sick in the first place is step one. We use probiotics in our home year round, but especially in the winter months. As many of you already know, I love MegaFood vitamins….I talk about them ALL of the time because I really do believe in them. We use their probiotic ‘MegaFlora’. They have different variations; one for children, one for women, and their standard formulation. Probiotics help to restore important gut bacteria that our bodies need, and they also support gut health and strengthen the immune system.
Another product we use during the winter months is a good Vitamin D supplement. Studies have shown a link between taking Vitamin D and a lowered risk of developing colds and flus. With that said, we also take Vitamin D because it’s shown to reduce those ‘winter blues’, and improve resistance against disease.
When we are sick, we also drink lots of lemon water (Mila loves warm honey lemon water, and she finds this really comforting when she has a cold). I also love running our Diffuser with essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus and lavender scents as I find them really soothing.
2. Organic Elderberry Syrup
I swear by this stuff. We start taking Elderberry Syrup when we first begin to feel a cold developing, and I’ve noticed that when I’m deliberate in taking it, my symptoms are much more manageable than usual (and the duration of my cold is shorter). I also give this to the girls and they LOVE the taste. Side note: We buy the Suro Elderberry Syrup shown here, because it doesn’t have added sugar and it’s organic.
3. Cold Storm
Guys…this stuff isn’t for the faint of heart. It tastes absolutely awful…but it works. Garlic contains over 2000+ phytochemicals proven to be effective against bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral infections. Medical studies show garlic detoxifies heavy metals and reduces their absorption when used preventatively. Whenever we feel a sickness coming on, this is always one of my go-to supplements. Tip: Buy vegetable capsules and insert drops of cold storm into the capsule. This completely eliminates the overpowering garlic flavour all together. Easy peasy!
4. Oregano Oil
This is another supplement that I would take inside of vegetable capsules, as the flavour is extremely strong. With that said…It’s FULL of amazing health benefits. I actually started taking oregano oil before any of the other supplements listed here, and it is still a part of my cold/flu prevention ‘kit’. Oregano oil supports the immune system, as it’s incredibly high in antioxidants (it’s actually shown to be higher in certain antioxidants than berries and other superfoods). It also has anti-inflammatory properties, supports the respiratory system and supports digestion. I take this at the first sign of a cold or flu coming on, and take it continually to reduce longevity and intensity of sickness.
5. Organic Manuka Honey Pops
When my girls are sick, they often complain of sore throats. There isn’t much that we can give little ones to ease the dryness and pain, so I use these organic Manuka Honey Pops instead. Manuka Honey is known to have antibacterial qualities and honey is a natural cough suppressant (just remember that you can’t give honey to infants under 12 months of age).
Of course, these pops still contain sugar, so we are cautious in how often we give them to the girls. We do like to have them on hand though as they are (in my opinion) a better ‘cough/sore throat lozenge’ option for kids and toddlers.
With all of this said…lots of sleep, snuggles, and fluids are the best kinds of medicine, really! (and maybe binging on a new Netflix series, too).
Lots of love,
Alexandra xo